The results of a new poll from Innovative Research Group indicates that rising electricity rates in Ontario has become a big problem for the Kathleen Wynne Liberals.
Energy prices are now the second most important issue to Ontarians (19%), only behind the economy (26%), according to the September poll. Healthcare is third at 16%, while the environment is at 3%.
Another indicator of the significance electricity pricing has now garnered in Ontario is survey respondents’ feelings on party stances on the matter. The poll says 51% of survey respondents believe “party stands on electricity matter to their vote.” This is up 17 percentage points in the last two years when in 2014, 34% felt this way.
Ontarians are also now suggesting that their personal finances are more important than bigger issues such as climate change. The survey says climate change lags at 14% compared to “pocketbook” issues like electricity price (30%) and jobs and the economy at 34%.
Frustration over electricity prices has been rising for the last six years, according to the survey. In early 2010, 16% of Ontarians strongly disagreed that they were well-protected on the price, reliability and quality of electricity. The last six years has seen a steady increase in the number of people who strongly disagree with the statement to the point where it has now reached 50%.
It doesn’t get any better for the Liberals when it comes to their electricity plan. In the last two years, those who believe the plan is bad has nearly tripled from 15% in 2014 to 42% in 2016. Results from this question also demonstrate the polarization of the Liberals’ electricity plan. Two years ago, 46% of survey respondents didn’t know enough to say whether the plan was bad or good. This time around that number has dropped to 20%.
A healthy chunk of Ontarians recognize that the province needs to improve its electricity system and by doing do, rates will increase. For example, 43% of survey respondents say the province should shift to more environmentally friendly generation sources. Building new generation though is lower down the list at 21%.
Still when it comes to rates, provincial residents believe more could be done with less. A majority of Ontarians (56%) say there are more than enough efficiency savings available to pay for improvements without having to increase rates.
The Innovative Research Group survey also delved into the province’s cap and trade program as well as cyber security in the energy sector. The findings were presented at an Ontario Energy Association conference on September 28. Canadian Green Tech will have more on these two issues in the coming days.
The telephone survey of 600 voting age Ontarians was conducted between September 15 to 24. It carries an accuracy rate of +/-4.0% 19 times out of 20.