The poll surveyed a random sample of 2,415 Toronto residents

by Smart IVR on May 28th, 2015.

Mainstreet surveyed a mixture of landlines and cell phones.
Margin of error +/- 1.99%, 19/20.

45% SUPPORT TEARING DOWN GARDINER EAST

June 1st, 2015. A new Mainstreet Technologies poll finds Torontonians prefer tearing down the
Gardiner over rebuilding it. With 2,415 respondents the poll has a margin of error of +/- 1.99%, 19/20.
Meanwhile, John Torys approval rating is up 2% to 63% and approval for city council as a whole has
jumped 7% to 53%. 58% of Torontonians approve of their local councillor.
When we asked Torontonians if they approved or disapproved of the two competing plans for the
Gardiner east of Jarvis both plans received strong support, said Quito Maggi, President of
Mainstreet Technologies. But the plan to remove the Gardiner east of Jarvis received the highest
approval and when we asked Torontonians which option they preferred 45% chose removing the
Gardiner.
Mr. Tory will need to do more to convince Torontonians the hybrid plan he supports is best for the
city. Support for the teardown option is spread evenly among demographic lines though it receives
its highest support downtown. finished Maggi.
Highlights
- 63% approve of Mayor John Tory
- 53% approve of city council, 58% approve of their local councillor
- 60% approve of the plan to teardown the Gardiner east of Jarvis
- 54% approve of the plan to rebuild the Gardiner mostly as it is (known as the hybrid option)
- 45% prefer to teardown the Gardiner compared to 33% who would prefer to mostly rebuild it
-30Available for interview from Toronto:
Quito Maggi, quito@mainstreettechnologies.ca, 416-570-3762
Methodology
The poll surveyed a random sample of 2,415 Torontonians by by Smart IVR on May 28th, 2015.
Mainstreet surveyed a mixture of cell phones and landlines.
About Mainstreet Technologies
Mainstreet Technologies is a national public research firm. With 20 years of political experience at all
three levels of government, President and CEO Quito Maggi is a respected commentator on Canadian
public affairs.
Differentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet has provided accurate snapshots of public opinion,
having predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta (2015), a majority Liberal government in
British Columbia, and a majority Liberal government in Ontario. Most recently, Mainstreet was the most
accurate pollster of Novembers Toronto mayoral election and Februarys by-election in Sudbury.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Tory is handling his job as Mayor?

13%

24%

63%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 63%

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 24%

NOT SURE: 13%

AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
BY BOROUGH
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

27%
41%
38% 41%
31%
26% 25% 25%
8%
12%
14% 11%
23%
9%
8%
8%
11%
11%
14% 16%
387
500
680 848

Male
34%
28%
12%
13%
13%
1036

Female
38%
26%
11%
12%
12%
1379

SCAR. N.YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

40%
34%
28%
40%
25%
23%
24%
32%
9%
12%
20%
8%
11%
16%
17%
7%
15%
15%
10%
11%
612
454
567
782

Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Tory is handling his job as Mayor?

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Janury

February

March

April

Approve Disapprove Not Sure

May

Thinking about Toronto City Council, do you approve or disapprove of the way it
is handling its job?
17%

53%

30%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 53%

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 30%

NOT SURE: 17%

AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
BY BOROUGH
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

16%
26%
13% 13%
40% 32% 35% 35%
12%
18%
18% 16%
17%
9%
16% 14%
14%
15%
18% 22%
387
500
680 848

Male
18%
37%
17%
16%
12%
1036

Female
16%
34%
14%
13%
22%
1379

SCAR. N.YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

29%
14%
10%
16%
25%
37%
43%
37%
9%
10%
21%
22%
21%
20%
8%
8%
15%
19%
17%
17%
612
454
567
782

Thinking about Toronto City Council, do you approve or disapprove of the way it
is handling its job?

60

50

40

30

20

10
0
January

March

Approve Disapprove Not Sure

May

Thinking about your local city councilor, do you approve or disapprove of the
way they are handling their job?
15%

27%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 58%

58%

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 27%

NOT SURE: 15%

AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
BY BOROUGH
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

36% 35% 26% 25%
23% 23% 27% 40%
22%
19%
19% 15%
2%
12%
11%
7%
17%
11%
16% 13%
387
500
680 848

Male
27%
32%
17%
9%
15%
1036

Female
35%
23%
21%
7%
14%
1379

SCAR. N.YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

40%
33%
13%
32%
23%
22%
41%
28%
20%
23%
14%
18%
12%
7%
8%
6%
6%
14%
24%
16%
612
454
567
782

Thinking about your local city councilor, do you approve or disapprove of the
way they are handling their job?

70

60

50

40

30

20

10
0
January

March

Approve Disapprove Not Sure

May

Toronto City Council is debating the future of the Gardiner east of Jarvis; two options
are receiving the most consideration. One plan is to remove the Gardiner east of
Jarvis and replace it with a boulevard. Supporters say this is the cheapest option and
allows for better development of Torontos waterfront. Critics say tearing down the
Gardiner will add to commuting times. Do you approve or disapprove of the plan to
remove the Gardiner?
6%

34%

60%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 60%

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 34%

NOT SURE: 6%

AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
BY BOROUGH
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64

48% 37% 29%
24%
21%
23%
7%
12%
15%
16%
25% 26%
5%
5%
8%
387
500
680

65+
34%
25%
12%
22%
6%
848

Male
35%
25%
12%
23%
6%
1036

Female
39%
21%
12%
22%
6%
1379

SCAR. N.YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

34%
38%
37%
41%
26%
23%
21%
19%
11%
11%
14%
12%
22%
23%
22%
23%
7%
5%
6%
6%
612
454
567
782

Toronto City Council is debating the future of the Gardiner east of Jarvis; two options
are receiving the most consideration. One plan is to rebuild the Gardiner mostly the
same as it is now. Supporters say this is the better option for commuting times and
economic development. Critics say this plan costs almost $450 million more than
other options and will not allow proper development of the waterfront. Do you
approve or disapprove of the plan to mostly rebuild the Gardiner?
7%

39%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 54%

54%

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 39%

NOT SURE: 7%

AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
BY BOROUGH
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

39% 35%
31% 23%
14% 24% 24% 23%
23%
14%
16% 20%
15%
22% 22% 26%
9%
5%
7%
8%
387
500
680 848

Male
31%
21%
20%
19%
8%
1036

Female
34%
21%
16%
22%
7%
1379

SCAR. N.YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

37%
30%
33%
32%
20%
21%
23%
20%
18%
19%
17%
18%
16%
23%
19%
23%
8%
6%
8%
7%
612
454
567
782

And thinking of the plan to tear down the Gardiner east of Jarvis and replace it
with a boulevard and the plan to mostly rebuild the Gardiner east of Jarvis as it is
now, which do you prefer?
12%

33%

11%

45%

REBUILD: 33%

TEARDOWN: 45%

NEITHER: 11% NOT SURE: 12%

AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN

REBUILD
TEARDOWN
NEITHER
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
BY BOROUGH
REBUILD
TEARDOWN
NEITHER
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

32% 30% 34% 36%
44% 46% 44% 43%
12%
11%
10% 9%
12%
13%
12% 11%
387
500
680 848

Male
33%
45%
10%
12%
1036

Female
32%
44%
11%
13%
1379

SCAR. N.YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

36%
30%
36%
31%
42%
45%
43%
46%
10%
11%
9%
11%
11%
13%
12%
11%
612
454
567
782

SCRIPT
Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Tory is handling his job as Mayor?
- Strongly approve
- Somewhat approve
- Somewhat disapprove
- Strongly disapprove
- Not Sure
Thinking about Toronto City Council, do you approve or disapprove of the way it is handling its job?
- Strongly approve
- Somewhat approve
- Somewhat disapprove
- Strongly disapprove
- Not Sure
Thinking about your local city councilor, do you approve or disapprove of the way they are handling
their job?
- Strongly approve
- Somewhat approve
- Somewhat disapprove
- Strongly disapprove
- Not Sure
Toronto City Council is debating the future of the Gardiner east of Jarvis; two options are receiving the
most consideration. [Next two Qs randomly rotated.]
One plan is to remove the Gardiner east of Jarvis and replace it with a boulevard. Supporters say this is
the cheapest option and allows for better development of Torontos waterfront. Critics say tearing down
the Gardiner will add to commuting times. Do you approve or disapprove of the plan to remove the
Gardiner?
- Strongly Approve
- Somewhat approve
- Somewhat disapprove
- Strongly disapprove
- Not Sure
One plan is to rebuild the Gardiner mostly the same as it is now. Supporters say this is the better option
for commuting times and economic development. Critics say this plan costs almost $450 million more
than other options and will not allow proper development of the waterfront. Do you approve or
disapprove of the plan to mostly rebuild the Gardiner?

SCRIPT CONTINUED
- Strongly approve
- Somewhat approve
- Somewhat disapprove
- Strongly disapprove
- Not Sure
And thinking of the plan to tear down the Gardiner east of Jarvis and replace it with a boulevard and
the plan to mostly rebuild the Gardiner east of Jarvis as it is now, which do you prefer?
- Mostly rebuilding the Gardiner east of Jarvis as it is now
- Tearing down the Gardiner east of Jarvis and replacing it with a boulevard
- Neither
- Not Sure