Public Opinion
The results of recent polls have concluded that Canadians overwhelmingly recognize the importance of protecting water.
Majority of Canadians would like to see all levels of government working together to develop policies and legislation that protects this resource in a sustainable way – including a national water strategy.
Circle of Blue Global Opinion Poll
August 2009 - Circle of Blue commissioned Globescan to conduct a global opinion poll. It surveyed people from 15 countries, including over 1000 Canadians, to learn more about their attitudes towards fresh water resources.
Key research findings:
- Canadians are very concerned about their water - key issues include water pollution (67%) and the lack of safe drinking water (65 percent).
- Canadians believe it is important for all citizens to have adequate, affordable water (97%).
- Canadians are more concerned about water pollution and fresh water shortages than people from countries such as US, India, China, and Russia.
- They worry that fresh water shortages will become an increasingly severe problem worldwide (94%).
- Canadians feel they need more information to do more to protect water (77%).
Nanos - Policy Opinions Poll
Summer 2009 - The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation sponsored a Nanos Research poll for the July-August 2009 Policy Options special edition on water.
Key research findings:
- Canadians regard fresh water as the country's most important natural resource (61.6%) - even over oil & gas and forestry.
- With the notable exception of Quebec, Canadians are prepared to accept federal leadership on this issue, but would clearly prefer everyone to work together.
- They believe that the top government priority should be adopting a national water strategy to address Canada’s freshwater challenges. Banning bulk water exports was rated as the next highest priority.
- Canadians are generally willing to pay more for fresh water, if governments can guarantee an improved supply.
Ipsos-Reid Poll
March 2009 - RBC, Unilever and the Canadian Partnership Initiative of the UN Water for Life Decade commissioned the 2009 Canadian Water Attitudes Study to gain insight into how Canadians perceive their water and its management.
Key research findings:
- Canadians believe that an abundant supply of fresh water is important to the country's economy (97%).
- They are increasingly concerned about threats to fresh water supply.
- Canadians do not understand the various problems that threaten our water resources.
