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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Politicians are out of touch with Canadians: survey
OTTAWA -- An overwhelming majority of Canadians feel politicians in Ottawa have little or nothing in common with them and don't believe the political elite in the nation's capital understand the values of average people, a new poll conducted for Postmedia News reveals.
The survey also found Canadians generally don't trust politicians -- especially at the federal and provincial levels -- and believe there's too much government interference in their lives. Furthermore, people across the country believe we pay too much in taxes and don't get good value for the services delivered in return.
Though Canadians across the country celebrated their nation's birthday this past weekend, it appears there's little to celebrate about the public's perception of politicians and the relationship office-holders have with the taxpayers they serve.
The Ipsos-Reid online poll of 1,101 Canadians, conducted June 20 to 25 for Postmedia News and Global Television, indicates Canadians largely feel detached from politicians at all levels who make critical decisions affecting their taxes, health care, education and other key programs.
A whopping 95 per cent of Canadians feel politicians in Ottawa have nothing in common (44 per cent) or only a little in common (51 per cent) with average Canadians, while only five per cent believe members of Parliament and senators have a lot in common with them.
In the same vein, 84 per cent of those polled either strongly agree (38 per cent) or somewhat agree (46 per cent) the political elite in Ottawa isn't tuned in to what's really important to average Canadians.
On the flip side, 16 per cent either somewhat disagree (14 per cent) or strongly disagree (two per cent) with that assessment and believe politicians in Ottawa understand the concerns of everyday Canadians.
"There has been a decline of deference," said Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs.
"There's a general feeling that the politicians of the country, especially in Ottawa, don't get what's happening in local communities. They just don't feel connected."
That sentiment perhaps can best be seen on the issue of trust.
More than half the poll respondents said they either very much trust (nine per cent) or somewhat trust (48 per cent) their local/municipal governments to do the right thing. Three in 10 people said they don't really trust their local government, while 14 per cent said they don't at all trust their municipally elected officials.
The numbers aren't so flattering at the more senior and distant levels of government.
Nearly six in 10 people said they either don't really trust (31 per cent) or don't at all trust (26 per cent) the federal government to do the right thing, while about four in 10 said they either trust very much (only seven per cent) or somewhat trust (36 per cent) the national government.
Voter distrust has grown in recent years because the public is better educated and has more access to information online, so citizens ask far more questions than in the past, Bricker said.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
-- Postmedia News
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 3, 2012 A8
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