When it comes to private MRI clinics, Albertans seem to hold a “let sleeping dogs lie” view.  According to our September Eye on Alberta report, nearly 6-in-10 (59%) Albertans approve of the current “hybrid” system for MRI diagnostics, compared to 1/3 (33%) that disapprove.   The issue briefly surfaced in late August, when the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons […]

  “All Calgarians currently subsidize development of new suburban communities by approximately $4,800 per home.  In 2012, this subsidy cost Calgarians approximately $33,000,000…That subsidy has led to nearly $1.5 Billion in debt to The City of Calgary.” – Naheed Nenshi   What?!  If that’s true homeowners should be storming the polls on Election Day to stop it. If it’s not […]

Saw the oddest thing on Twitter the other night, and while I hope its not an omen of things to come for the municipal campaign, I suspect it may be.   The Mayor, his sister and a member of his office staff (on leave for the campaign) all pressed an aldermanic candidate from Ward 1 to give a “yes” or […]

There’s a general rule about public opinion and taxes.  Most voters will support increased taxation if: a) They feel it is necessary, and; b) They feel the proceeds will actually be going towards the services they want.   This may seem painfully self-evident, but you’d be surprised how often this simple guide is forgotten or ignored.   Case in point: […]

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi enjoys very healthy levels of support from Calgarians according to a recent ThinkHQ survey of Calgarians.  Nearly three-quarters (73%) offer approval of the mayor, 43% strongly, compared to only 23% who offer any degree of disapproval for Nenshi’s performance as Calgary’s Chief Elected Official over the past three years.  Although Nenshi’s popularity is very high, it […]

What happens when a city has $52 Million in extra annual tax revenue and asks voters what should be done with it?   Most of them have an opinion…and in Calgary right now, a plurality want a tax break.  Indeed, a majority want to take the decision from Council, and put it on the ballot this Fall.   Property taxes […]

For Immediate Release 2013 May 7   Although little known, Alberta’s $15 per tonne carbon tax is very popular among Albertans according to a recent ThinkHQ Public Affairs survey.   The poll, conducted in mid-April, reveals that fewer than 1/3 of Albertans (31%) are aware that Alberta currently has a levy on CO2 for large industrial emitters, with only 6% […]

Some new provincial politics numbers from our February 2013 survey. EOA Feb 2013 Excerpts