In 2010 the Environics Institute launched a new public opinion research program to build upon the syndicated Focus Canada research conducted by the Environics Research Group (ERG) for more than three decades (1976-2009). The purpose of this new initiative is to provide a credible, independent and sustained source of Canadian public opinion on important issues that will be on the public record for use by organizations and individuals in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
The focus of this new research program is on providing:
A continuation of the ongoing tracking and measurement of Canadian public opinion at the national, provincial and regional levels (begun in 1976) to identify important changes (or the lack of change) over time;
Coverage of topics ranging from politics and governance, the economy and social issues, to foreign policy, technology and social values; and
Full public access to the research findings, through reports, a website, conferences and other events, as ways to contribute to public debate and study.
2010 National Survey
The first major project under this initiative is a national public opinion survey to take the pulse of Canadians on a wide range of relevant policy areas and issues facing the country at this time. The overall framework for the research is Canadians' political values, including social issues (e.g., crime and justice, health care, multiculturalism), economic issues (taxation), confidence in institutions, the role of government and Canada's place in the world. In addition to the Institute, this research is being sponsored by the Canadian Opinion Research Archive (CORA) and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which is also serving as the project's media partner.
The research was conducted by Environics Research and consists of a comprehensive national public opinion survey conducted by telephone with a representative sample of 2,020 Canadians (aged 18 and over) between September 27 and October 12, 2010. The survey sample is stratified to ensure coverage of all 10 provinces, and is representative of the population by age cohort, gender and community size.
