 | Order the publication: $5.00 | |
Background
In 2001, the Canada West Foundation published Building the New West: A Framework for Regional Prosperity, outlining five key priorities for ensuring long-term prosperity in western Canada. These five priorities are:
- The West must create the tools to attract, retain and build human capital;
- The West must continue economic diversification;
- The West must strengthen its transportation infrastructure;
- The West must promote the global competitiveness of its major cities; and
- The West must develop new ways of facilitating regional coordination.
Since 2001, Canada West has conducted research in each of these five priority areas. The Looking West 2003 survey is intended to tap into the views and opinions of western Canadians on a number of issues relating to these five priority areas, as well as to probe attitudes toward other key policy topics, such as the environment and health care reform. The purpose of the Looking West 2003 survey is to inform the public, business and community leaders, and elected officials and public servants at all three levels of government about the views and perspectives of western Canadians.
Key Findings
- Western Canadians are generally optimistic about their province's future. Optimism is rising in Saskatchewan, but falling in Alberta
- Western Canadians feel under-appreciated by Canada and disadvantaged in Canadian federalism. In particular, Manitoba dissatisfaction is growing.
- Western Canadians do not feel that their provincial interests are well-represented at the federal level. Premiers are seen as the best voice for the provinces.
- Western Canadians do not see economic advantages to separatism.
- Western Canadians are pessimistic about Senate and electoral reform, and want greater regional cooperation to increase the West's political voice and improve its programs and services.
- Western Canadians feel the provincial governments need more power and money.
- Western Canadians are concerned about a number of policy issue, with health care, retaining young, and the environment topping the list. Despite their unique policy environments, political situations, economic circumstances and provincial cultures, in terms of policy priorities the four western provinces are more similar than they are different.
- Western Canadians are divided on the provincial-local government balance of powers, and prefer transfers to local governments and private service delivery over new local taxes and user fees as options to address local finance needs.
- Western Canadians feel urban and rural areas entitled to same level of services, despite the cost.
- Western Canadians show significant concerns about adequacy of the regional transportation system; to address this, westerners want dedicated fuel taxes and bonds, but oppose toll roads and user fees.
- A growing proportion of Alberta and Manitoba young people anticipate leaving province in the next five years; the number of young people in Saskatchewan anticipating leaving the province remains high, while the number in British Columbia has dropped.
- Western Canadians attribute lower Aboriginal labour force participation to insufficient education and training, but are divided on the solution.
- Western Canadians strongly believe it is possible to balance the economy and the environment, and are open to increasing water fees to promote water conservation.
- Western Canadians feel urban sprawl should be reduced.
- Western Canadians are divided on a health care solution. A near equal number of respondents support increasing opportunities for privately delivered health care as support leaving the system exactly as it is, and a healthy number of respondents support increasing taxes to fund the system. Less than one in ten support decreasing the number of services covered under public health care.
Methodology
The Looking West 2003 survey is based on a random sample telephone survey of western Canadians 18 years of age or older. On behalf of the Canada West Foundation, Western Opinion Research administered the survey between January 22 and February 18, 2003 out of their Winnipeg, Manitoba call centre. To allow for statistically significant analyses of each western province, as well as the West as a whole, a relatively large sample was used for each province. A total of 3,200 residents were interviewed by telephone across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (800 per province). Regional results are accurate to +/-1.73%, 95 times out of 100. Provincial results are accurate to +/-3.46%, 95 times out of 100.
Author(s): Dr. Loleen Berdahl
| Order the publication: $5.00 | |