Halifax: Seven in ten HRM residents completely (33%) or mostly (39%) support Halifax hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014, according to a recent survey of HRM residents undertaken by Corporate Research Associates, Inc. (CRA), as part of its Halifax Urban Report. This support level has remained stable over the past two months, as overall backing for the Games stood at 71 percent in December. Only two in ten (22%) HRM residents currently oppose hosting the Games, while a small number (5%) do not offer a definite opinion on Halifax potentially hosting the Commonwealth Games.
Peter MacIntosh, CRA Vice-President of Public Affairs Research, says “widespread and strong support for the Municipality hosting the Games is evident.”
There is majority support for Halifax hosting the Games across a range of demographic characteristics. However, support is stronger among residents under 55 years of age. Specifically, 84 percent of 18 to 34 year olds, and 76 percent of 35 to 54 year olds, support Halifax hosting the Games, compared with 53 percent of residents 55 years or older.
Reasons for supporting the Games include anticipated economic benefits (53%), the boost in the profile for Halifax (43%), and the sports facilities and infrastructure that will be built in HRM (23%). On the other hand, opposition to the Games among the opposing minority is driven by financial considerations, including concerns about debt and going over budget (40%), the belief that there are better ways to use the money (27%), and concern that taxes will increase (23%).
These results are part of the CRA’s Halifax Urban Report, an independent survey of 400 Halifax Regional Municipality adult residents, conducted between February 1 and February 7, 2007. The results are considered accurate within +/- 4.9 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times.
View tables here.
For more information, please contact: Peter MacIntosh, Vice-President of Public Affairs Research, (902) 722-3100.
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