Residents of HRM have positive views about the local economy and feel confident about its future. They also feel positive about HRM as a place to do business. Crime rates are down and perceptions of safety have increased. Development is seen as beneficial overall. However, satisfaction with municipal politicians has declined since the last survey in 2007. The majority support improvements to public transit like using rail lines or a ferry.

1. Survey Results | May 2010

2. Sponsoring Partners
Metro Halifax Omnifacts
We are pleased to co-sponsor this second CityThink We are delighted to bring you a new edition of CityThink
for HRM. We feel that part of our mandate is to reflect for Metro Halifax and want to thank Metro and Greater
the opinions, hopes and concerns of our readers and Halifax Partnership for their support and assistance
the citizens of this area. We believe we have selected throughout this research. We have included questions to
an interesting and useful range of topics for this year. give a good overview of public perception on a wide range
They range from the economy, to development, crime and of topics. We certainly hope you find the information to
personal financial situations. be helpful.
This summary represents an overview of CityThink for This short publication is intended to give a quick overview
2010 and over the next week we will use the results from of the major topics included on the survey. Over the
this survey to publish a series of stories looking behind the coming week more detailed coverage will follow in Metro.
numbers. We look forward to your reading! Thank you for your interest in our work.
Greg Lutes Craig Wight
Publisher, Metro Halifax Vice President Omnifacts
Greater Halifax Partnership
As the catalyst for economic growth and confidence in
Greater Halifax, we think it is important for us to support
initiatives like this. CityThink is a valuable tool for business
and community leaders because it offers insight into the
perceptions and attitudes of citizens on a wide range of
current topics.
We hope you find the information interesting and useful.
Paul Kent
President and CEO
Greater Halifax Partnership

3. Economy
As the world begins to recover from the global recession How does that fair compared to the rest of Atlantic
and countries like Greece are dealing with a debt crisis, Canada? Pretty good when we look at our recent numbers
residents of HRM are feeling pretty good about the region’s from AtlanticThink (Omnifacts’ quarterly research
economic situation. More than half rate HRM’s economy as publication). Residents of HRM give higher ratings for
good or excellent and one third expect things to get even the economy and are more positive about the future
better in the year ahead. compared to their counterparts in the rest of Nova Scotia
and Atlantic Canada.
The Economy – Performance and Confidence
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
CityThink – AtlanticThink – AtlanticThink – CityThink – AtlanticThink – AtlanticThink –
HRM Nova Scotia Atlantic Canada HRM Nova Scotia Atlantic Canada
Economic Performance Economic Confidence
(% indicating good or excellent) (% indicating better)

4. Think the good news ends there? Think again. Perceptions People in HRM are feeling pretty good about their personal
of HRM on a variety of measures related to the business financial health as well. Four in ten residents we surveyed
climate are very positive as well. More than four in ten feel indicated they were doing okay while the same number
HRM is a great place to start or grow an existing business. said they were doing well or great. Just one in five people
About half feel they can earn a competitive salary for the said that they can’t cope or are just getting by.
work they do and almost two thirds feel residents can
work in the field for which they are trained.
Business Climate – Percentage rating “Good” or “Excellent”
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Participate in a Work in the field Develop commercial Earn a Grow an existing Start a new
wide range of for which you real estate competitive salary business business
leisure activities are trained
Personal Financial Health
2007 2010 2009 2009
Description CityThink – CityThink – Description AtlanticThink – AtlanticThink –
HRM HRM Atlantic Canada Nova Scotia
Can’t cope / Can’t cope /
22% 18% 34% 32%
Just getting by Just getting by
Doing okay 39% 41% Doing okay 42% 44%
Doing well/great 36% 38% Doing well/great 23% 24%

5. Public Transit Public Transit – Percentage who support each
100
This year, we asked residents to indicate their level of
Strongly support
support for two potential developments for the public 90
transit system. Their reaction was very positive. 81% were Support
80
in favour of HRM using rail lines as a form of public transit
service while 65% gave the thumbs up to creating a high- 70
speed ferry service between Bedford and Halifax.
60
So how do the majority of people in HRM get around? 50
Well, almost nine in ten households surveyed had a vehicle 40
while 22% ride the bus at least once a week. We also
30
asked those bus riders how they felt about paying more
per trip for an improved bus system. Two thirds of bus 20
riders indicated they would be at least somewhat willing.
10
0
HRM using rail lines Creating a high-speed ferry
as a form of transit service between
Downtown public transit service Bedford and Halifax
There hasn’t been a lot of change in peoples’ attitudes
towards downtown Halifax compared to three years ago. 100
Attitudes towards Downtown Halifax –
Two thirds indicated they felt the same while just 16% Compared to 3 years ago
90
indicated they were more positive and 19% were feeling
more negative. Further, very few people said they were 80
highly concerned about the changes happening in the 70
downtown area (just 22% gave a rating of 8 or higher).
60
That’s not to say people don’t visit downtown Halifax. 50
The majority of residents we surveyed go downtown at
40
least once every two or three months with one third going
at least once a week. Their reasons for going downtown? 30
Top mentions included: 20
• Dining/restaurants – 25% 10
• Attend an event or show – 21% 0
• Shopping – 18% More positive About the same More negative

6. Crime Downtown Halifax – Percentage who consider it
“Mostly” or “Very” safe
We also looked at crime again in 2010. Interestingly,
100
71% felt that downtown Halifax was mostly or very safe. Very safe
This was up significantly from 50% just three years ago. 90
Mostly safe
80
This trend also extended to other indicators of crime in
HRM. In 2010, just 14% indicated they had personally 70
been a victim of a serious crime, 47% personally knew 60
someone else who had been a victim of a criminal act and
50
70% avoid areas of HRM for safety reasons. While most of
these numbers were down, the fact that so many residents 40
still avoid areas of HRM for safety reasons suggests there’s
30
work left to do.
20
10
0
2007 2010
Crime Indicators – Percentage indicating “Yes” to each
100
2007
90 2010
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Personally been a victim Know someone who has been a victim Areas of HRM you avoid
of a serious crime of a serious crime for safety reasons

7. Development Development in HRM –
Percentage indicating “Good for HRM”
Current development in the region is seen as having
100
a positive impact on HRM by the majority of residents.
Approximately two thirds indicated that the economic 90
growth, residential and commercial development that has 80
occurred in HRM over the past 10 years has been good
for the region. 70
60
While growth has been positive, respondents were split
50
on whether HRM’s development policies inhibit or favour
development. People from higher income brackets tended 40
to feel that they did more harm than good. Residents were
30
also divided on whether policies placed the right level of
emphasis on heritage preservation. Despite these mixed 20
feelings, respondents did agree that HRM has experienced 10
significant growth over the past 12 months – two thirds
described the level of growth as “some” or “a lot”. 0
Economic Residential Commercial
Growth – Development – Development –
Past 10 years Past 10 years Past 10 years
Municipal Politics Municipal Satisfaction – Percentage rating “7 or higher”
Despite the array of positive news on issues such as public 2007 CityThink 2010 CityThink
transit, crime and development, things weren’t quite as Mayor 57% 45%
rosy when we turned to municipal affairs. Ratings (7+) Council 39% 28%
for the mayor and city council have dropped significantly
since we surveyed in 2007. When it comes to the current
number of councilors, more than half feel there should be
a decrease for HRM.

8. Research
Methodology
Omnifacts is pleased to be partnering with Metro Halifax
and Greater Halifax Partnership to bring you this edition of
CityThink for HRM. The research is based on a random
sample of 500 adults in HRM. Data collection ended on
April 28th, 2010. The margin of error for a sample of 500 is
±4.4% 19 times out of 20.
Comparison data is taken from 2007 results as well as
from Omnifacts’ AtlanticThink, an exclusive report on
Atlantic Canadians based on a quarterly survey of 1,800
Atlantic Canadians.