The document summarizes the results of a Delphi Plebiscite study on Canadian public opinion and voting behavior. Some key findings include: - The Liberal Party was seen as best able to manage COVID-19 impacts, while the Green Party had the most ownership over environmental issues. The Conservatives were viewed as best on security/defence and reducing debt/deficit. - One-third of Canadians believed more should be spent on COVID-19 relief and the environment, while natural resources and manufacturing saw more support for less spending. - Nurses, doctors, police and scientists received the warmest feelings, while politicians, lobbyists and unions were viewed colder. Traditional media was seen warmer than

1. The Delphi
Plebiscite
A cross-sectional study of
Canadian public opinion
and voting behavior
Focus on the
Environment
December 14, 2020

2. Table of Contents Public Policy Management
Government Spending
Feelings Towards Groups,
Professions and Institutions
Cultural Issues and Debates
Methodology
Sample Demographics
Contact Us

3. Public Policy Management
When asked which party would be
best suited to handle 13 different
policy issues, roughly one-third of
Canadians were unable to name a
particular party for each issue
measured.
The Liberal Party was seen to be
better suited to manage the impacts
of COVID-19 than any other party.
The Green Party has more ownership
over the environment than any other
party.
Liberals seen as best to manage
foreign policy but Tories seen as best
to manage security and defence.
The Tories are best seen to manage
the debt/deficit but are tied with the
Liberals as to who is best to handle
the economy and create jobs.

4. 36%
34%
32%
30%
29%
29%
27%
26%
26%
26%
26%
23%
17%
18%
26%
21%
29%
23%
18%
18%
16%
29%
31%
21%
13%
39%
9%
7%
12%
7%
8%
19%
23%
22%
8%
6%
9%
10%
6%
9%
26%
32%
29%
28%
28%
33%
28%
27%
29%
31%
33%
32%
26%
34%
MANAGING THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19
TRADE AND FOREIGN POLICY
IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEES
GROWING THE ECONOMY AND CREATING
JOBS
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
HEALTH CARE
WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY
PHARMACARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG
COVERAGE
CRIME AND JUSTICE
SECURITY, DEFENCE AND THE MILITARY
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
REDUCING THE DEFICIT/DEBT
Which political party do you believe is best suited to
handle each of the following public policy issues?
Liberal Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP)
The Green Party of Canada Don't know
Liberals seen to be best suited to manage
the majority of the issues measured.
NDP fails to own any one issue but is most
competitive on pharmacare, welfare and
health care.
The Tories are more likely to be seen as
best suited to handle crime, defence,
reducing the deficit/debt, and are very
competitive on the economy.
The Green Party is seen to be better
suited to manage the environment than
any other party.
Across 13 different
public policy realms…

5. 36%
34%
32%
30%
29%
29%
27%
26%
26%
29%
29%
31%
39%
26%
MANAGING THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19
TRADE AND FOREIGN POLICY
IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEES
GROWING THE ECONOMY AND CREATING
JOBS
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
HEALTH CARE
WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY
PHARMACARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG
COVERAGE
CRIME AND JUSTICE
SECURITY, DEFENCE AND THE MILITARY
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
REDUCING THE DEFICIT/DEBT
Which political party do you believe is best suited to
handle each of the following public policy issues?
Liberal Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada
New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) The Green Party of Canada
Don't
know
32%
29%
28%
28%
33%
28%
27%
29%
31%
33%
32%
26%
34%
Darker colours signify issue
ownership (more than any
other party as well as the %
who say they do not know).
Lighter colours signify a
competitive advantage (more
than any other party but less
the % that does not know).
Despite only 4% of decided
voters willing to cast their ballot
for the Green Party, more than
one-in-four Canadians believe
the Greens would be best suited
to manage climate change and
the environment.

6. 23%
33%
31%
29%
CANADIANS
OVERALL
65 OR OVER
ATLANTIC
$100,000 OR MORE
Which political party do you believe is best
suited to handle each of the following public
policy issues?
(Climate change and the environment)
Liberal Party of
Canada
Those over the age of
65, Atlantic Canada
residents and those
living in households
earning $100k/year or
more are more likely
than Canadians overall
to believe the Liberal
Party would be best
suited to manage the
environment.

7. 26%
46%
35%
32%
CANADIANS
OVERALL
18 TO 24
MASTER’S DEGREE
OR HIGHER
UNION MEMBERS
Which political party do you believe is best
suited to handle each of the following public
policy issues?
(Climate change and the environment)
The Green Party
of Canada
Younger Canadians,
those with higher
levels of education
and union members
are more likely to
see the Green Party
as best suited to
manage the
environment.

8. Government Spending One third of Canadians
believe the federal
government should spend
more on COVID-19 relief
measures.
More than four in ten say the
government should spend
more on the environment.
Public more likely to support
increased government
spending on science,
technology and innovation
but less on automotive and
manufacturing.

9. 61%
56%
46%
44%
44%
33%
33%
32%
28%
28%
27%
20%
14%
10%
28%
31%
37%
40%
36%
49%
42%
43%
53%
53%
48%
50%
46%
50%
3%
5%
7%
5%
11%
8%
16%
15%
9%
7%
13%
21%
27%
27%
HEALTH CARE
MENTAL HEALTH
PHARMACARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG
COVERAGE
SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
THE ENVIRONMENT
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
COVID-19 RELIEF MEASURES
WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY
CRIME AND JUSTICE
AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BROADBAND
CONNECTIVITY
DEFENCE AND SECURITY
NATURAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION
AUTOMOTIVE AND MANUFACTURING
For each of the following public policy realms listed
below, please tell us whether you believe the federal
government should spend more, spend less or spend about
the same as now.
Spend more Spend about the same as now Spend less
The top three policy realms
that Canadians wanted to see
more spending on revolve
around health care.
Canadians were more divided
as to whether the government
should spend more or less on
defence and security.
Of the 14 policy realms
measured, the environment is
seen as one of the top five
issues that deserve increased
government spending.

10. 3%
5%
7%
5%
11%
8%
16%
15%
9%
7%
13%
21%
27%
27%
61%
56%
46%
44%
44%
33%
33%
32%
28%
28%
27%
20%
14%
10%
HEALTH CARE
MENTAL HEALTH
PHARMACARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG
COVERAGE
SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
THE ENVIRONMENT
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
COVID-19 RELIEF MEASURES
WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY
CRIME AND JUSTICE
AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BROADBAND
CONNECTIVITY
DEFENCE AND SECURITY
NATURAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION
AUTOMOTIVE AND MANUFACTURING
For each of the following public policy realms listed
below, please tell us whether you believe the federal
government should spend more, spend less or spend
about the same as now.
Spend less Spend more
More or Less
Increased spending on the
environment outweighs
decreased spending by 4:1.
The highest levels of support
for decreased spending were
found among natural
resource extraction as well
as automotive and
manufacturing.

11. 11%
10%
4%
4%
3%
7%
8%
18%
22%
29%
44%
73%
64%
63%
56%
55%
54%
34%
41%
22%
CANADIANS OVERALL
DECIDED GREEN PARTY VOTERS
18 TO 24
DECIDED NDP VOTERS
DECIDED LIBERAL PARTY VOTERS
MASTER’S DEGREE OR HIGHER
65 OR OVER
55 TO 64
ALBERTA
DECIDED CONSERVATIVE PARTY VOTERS
For each of the following public policy realms listed
below, please tell us whether you believe the federal
government should spend more, spend less or spend
about the same as now.
(The Environment)
Spend less Spend more
More or Less
Notable majorities of
decided Liberal, Green and
NDP voters believe the
federal government should
spend more on the
environment while one-in-
three Conservative Party
voters said that spending on
the environment should be
decreased.

12. 53%
53%
50%
50%
49%
48%
46%
43%
42%
40%
37%
36%
31%
28%
AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD
CRIME AND JUSTICE
DEFENCE AND SECURITY
AUTOMOTIVE AND MANUFACTURING
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BROADBAND
CONNECTIVITY
NATURAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION
WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY
COVID-19 RELIEF MEASURES
SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
PHARMACARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG
COVERAGE
THE ENVIRONMENT
MENTAL HEALTH
HEALTH CARE
For each of the following public policy realms listed
below, please tell us whether you believe the federal
government should spend more, spend less or spend
about the same as now.
(Spend about the same as now)
Canadians were more
ambivalent about
government spending on
agriculture and agri-food
followed by crime and
justice.
Opinions about spending
were more concrete
(fewest % of people saying
‘the same as now’) around
the environment, mental
heath and heath care.

13. 36%
47%
44%
44%
CANADIANS OVERALL
DECIDED CONSERVATIVE PARTY VOTERS
DECIDED BQ VOTERS
THE PRAIRIES
For each of the following public policy realms listed
below, please tell us whether you believe the federal
government should spend more, spend less or spend
about the same as now.
(The environment – spend about the same as now)
Decided Conservative
and BQ Party voters as
well as those living in
the Prairies were
more likely than
Canadians overall to
say that the federal
government should
spend about the same
as now on the
environment.

14. Feelings Towards Groups,
Professions and Institutions
Using a feeling thermometer (a scale
ranging from 0, meaning very cold, to
10 meaning very warm, and 5
meaning neither cold nor warm),
respondents were asked to identify
how warm or cold their feelings are
towards 17 groups, professions and
institutions.
Groups with warmer feelings (6-10):
Nurses
Doctors
Police and law enforcement
Scientists
Groups with colder feelings (0-4):
Labour unions
Politicians and lawmakers
Lobbyists and special interests groups

15. 3%
5%
4%
5%
11%
6%
18%
14%
12%
22%
24%
33%
32%
38%
47%
47%
56%
84%
78%
76%
74%
71%
71%
57%
53%
53%
42%
41%
30%
30%
29%
20%
20%
11%
NURSES
DOCTORS
SMALL BUSINESSES
FARMERS AND AGRI-FOOD WORKERS
TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS
SCIENTISTS
POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
CANADA POST AND POSTAL WORKERS
ACADEMICS
TRADITIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS (NEWSPAPERS,
RADIO STATIONS, TELEVISION NETWORKS, ETC.)
JOURNALISTS
BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
CIVIL SERVANTS AND BUREAUCRATS
LABOUR UNIONS
POLITICIANS AND LAWMAKERS
SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS (TWITTER, FACEBOOK,
ETC.)
LOBBYISTS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Please tell us on a scale from 0, meaning very cold
feelings, to 10 meaning very warm feelings, and 5 meaning
neither cold nor warm feelings, how you feel about each
of the following groups or entities listed below.
Cooler feelings (0-4)
Warmer feelings (6-10)
Traditional media outlets
were viewed more
warmly than social media
outlets.
Small businesses viewed
more warmly than
banking and financial
institutions.
Warmer feelings for
scientists outweigh colder
feelings by 11:1.

16. 33%
33%
32%
31%
30%
28%
28%
28%
28%
26%
21%
19%
17%
15%
14%
13%
9%
BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
CIVIL SERVANTS AND BUREAUCRATS
TRADITIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS (NEWSPAPERS, RADIO
STATIONS, TELEVISION NETWORKS, ETC.)
ACADEMICS
JOURNALISTS
LABOUR UNIONS
SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS (TWITTER, FACEBOOK,
ETC.)
POLITICIANS AND LAWMAKERS
CANADA POST AND POSTAL WORKERS
LOBBYISTS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
SCIENTISTS
FARMERS AND AGRI -FOOD WORKERS
SMALL BUSINESSES
TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS
DOCTORS
NURSES
Please tell us on a scale from 0, meaning very cold feelings, to 10
meaning very warm feelings, and 5 meaning neither cold nor warm
feelings, how you feel about each of the following groups or
entities listed below.
5 Neither cold
nor warm
Canadians were more
tepid about larger
institutions such as
banks, public sector
bureaucracy and
traditional media
outlets.
One in five Canadians
had neither cold nor
warm feelings towards
scientists.

17. 11%
6% 7% 5% 9%
28%
10%6% 7% 3%3%
Labour unions
3%2% 3% 3% 7%
21%
12%12%13%9%10%
Police and law enforcement
2%1% 2% 2% 4%
31%
12%14%13%
7%7%
Academics
2%1% 2% 2% 4%
14%
8%12%
19%
13%
18%
Teachers and educators
1%2% 2% 4% 6%
28%
11%12%14%
8%8%
Canada Post and postal workers
0%1% 1% 1% 2%
15%
10%14%
19%17%16%
Small businesses
6%4% 5% 7%10%
33%
10%9% 5% 3%3%
Banking and financial institutions
14%
7% 8% 8%10%
28%
7% 4% 5% 2%1%
Social media outlets (Twitter, Facebook,
etc.)
5%3% 3% 5% 7%
32%
11%12%10%6%4%
Traditional media outlets (Newspapers,
radio stations, television networks, etc.)
5%2% 4% 5% 8%
30%
11%11%12%
4%4%
Journalists
11%7% 9% 9%11%
28%
7% 6% 4% 2%1%
Politicians and lawmakers
1%0% 1% 2% 2%
17%
10%
14%
18%
15%17%
Farmers and agri-food workers
19%
10%9% 9%10%
26%
4% 2% 2% 2% 1%
Lobbyists and special interest groups
6%4% 6% 6%10%
33%
10%7% 6% 3%3%
Civil servants and bureaucrats
1%1% 1% 1% 3%
19%
8%13%
19%14%17%
Scientists
1%0% 0% 1% 1%
9% 6% 9%
17%19%
33%
Nurses
1%0% 1% 1% 2%
13%9%13%
19%15%
23%
Doctors
0 (Very cold feelings) 1 2 3 4 5 Neither cold nor warm 6 7 8 9 10 (Very warm feelings)
Feeling thermometer for each group,
profession or institution
Warmer
Feelings
Colder
Feelings

18. Cultural Issues and Debates From a list of 12 different cultural
issues and debates, we asked
respondents to tell us how important
(on a scale from 1, meaning not very
important, to 5 meaning very
important) each issue was to them.
This was more so a measure of
intensity as opposed to direction -
we did not ask any other questions
that gauge where respondents stood
on the issue or asked them to assign
a value judgment to the topic.
While not as newsworthy or spoken
about as racial or gender equality,
hunger and food security was seen as
the most important issue (highest %
of respondents placing the issue on a
5 on the scale).

19. 26%
23%
25%
29%
25%
28%
25%
28%
24%
21%
27%
21%
52%
49%
45%
44%
43%
38%
38%
33%
28%
27%
20%
22%
HUNGER AND FOOD SECURITY
GUN VIOLENCE AND VIOLENT CRIME
RACIAL EQUALITY AND JUSTICE
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
INCOME INEQUALITY
FEMINISM AND EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND
WOMEN
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
RECONCILIATION WITH INDIGENOUS
CANADIANS
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
IMMIGRATION, REFUGEES AND ASYLUM
SEEKERS
ISSUES AFFECTING THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
When thinking about the different cultural issues listed below,
please tell us on a scale from 1 to 5, 1 meaning not very, and 5
meaning very, how important each issue is to you?
1 (Not very important) 2 3 4 5 (Very important)
In Focus:
Most-to-Least
Canadians placed higher levels
of importance on freedom of
speech and expression than
religious freedom.
Racial equality and justice was
viewed with a greater level of
importance than diversity or
inclusion or reconciliation with
Indigenous Canadians.
Of the twelve issues measured,
the environment is seen as the
fifth most important issue.

20. 25%
26%
7%
27%
43%
53%
68%
47%
CANADIANS
OVERALL
65 OR OVER
18 TO 24
QUEBEC
When thinking about the different cultural issues listed
below, please tell us on a scale from 1 to 5, 1 meaning
not very, and 5 meaning very, how important each issue
is to you?
(Climate change and the environment)
1 (Not very important) 2 3 4 5 (Very important)
In Focus:
Most-to-Least
Concern and importance
placed on the environment is
most notable among both
wings of the age spectrum.
Those living in Quebec were
more likely than Canadians
overall to place greater
levels of importance on
climate change and the
environment.

21. Methodology
Online survey by way of a
demographically representative
panel of Canadians
N=1,000 adults
(aged 18 and older)
Survey made available in
English and French
Interlocking quotas as set out
in the Canadian Census
by way of age, gender,
province.
Survey fieldwork took place
from November 20 through 25,
2020
Margin of Error: N/A for online
polls (comparable margin of
error would be +/- 3%,
19 times out of 20)

22. Sample Demographics
Gender % of Sample
Men 48.4%
Women 51.3%
Other 0.3%
Age % of Sample
18-24 2.8%
25-34 24.5%
35-44 15%
45-54 20.6%
55-64 15%
65+ 22.1%
Education
% of
Sample
High School or Less 13.2%
Some University or College 16.7%
College or University Degree 51.7%
Master’s Degree or Higher 18.4%

23. Sample Demographics
Province % of Sample
Newfoundland & Labrador 1.2%
Prince Edward Island 0.6%
New Brunswick 2.2%
Nova Scotia 2.2%
Quebec 23.2%
Ontario 39.4%
Manitoba 4.7%
Saskatchewan 2.2%
Alberta 11.2%
British Columbia 13.1%

24. Sample Demographics
Household Income % of Sample
Under $30,000 8%
$30,000 to under $40,000 6.8%
$40,000 to under $50,000 5.8%
$50,000 to under $60,000 6.2%
$60,000 to under $70,000 6.7%
$70,000 to under $80,000 5.2%
$80,000 to under $90,000 5.9%
$90,000 to under $100,000 7.2%
$100,000 to under $120,000 10.2%
$120,000 or over 20.5%
Rather not say 17.5%

25. Sample Demographics
Union
Membership
% of Sample
Member 28.9%
Not a member 67.9%
Don’t know 3.2%
Born in Canada % of Sample
I was born in Canada 78.5%
I was born elsewhere 21.5%
Employment Status % of Sample
Working full-time
(30 hours a week or more)
55.1%
Working part-time
(fewer than 30 hours a week)
9.6%
Laid off, unemployed or
looking for a job
5%
Unable to work 2.9%
Retired 25.4%
Student, at school or in training 2%

26. Website: delphipolling.com
Twitter: @djsamplingerror
LinkedIn: Adrian Macaulay
Adrian Macaulay, President
adrian@delphipolling.com
647-539-7587
CONTACT US