Approval of the mayor high, but softening

Vancouver, BC (Aug 2, 2011) – Currently, just over one-half (54%) of Vancouver residents “approve” of the performance of Mayor, Gregor Robertson. This level is consistent with results in May 2011. However, strong approval has decreased five percentage points to 12%, its lowest level since tracking began a year ago.

Disapproval remains statistically unchanged at 32%. However, the proportion “strongly” disapproving has grown to its highest level (19%).

“The mayor continues to enjoy very good approval ratings from Vancouver residents,” says Barb Justason, the firm’s principal. “In maintaining approval from a majority of residents, the mayor is clearly outperforming his party,” notes Justason, recalling that Vision Vancouver support has fallen over the past year.

The proportion of residents who reserve judgement (“neither” and “don’t know”) has declined steadily since tracking began, from 29% in July/August 2010 to 14% currently.

Approval of the performance of Suzanne Anton as City Councillor stands at 35% and disapproval, at 17%.

“Councillor Anton certainly enjoys an excellent approval ratio of two-to-one,” says Justason. “But awareness and familiarity are major obstacles at the moment. With about half of residents not yet able to give us an opinion on her performance, we don’t yet have a picture of what impact she may have as we approach the November election.”

The Vancouver Civic Outlook is a regular series sponsored by Justason Market Intelligence surveying City of Vancouver residents.

Research Notes:

• Dates of research: July 11-15, 2011
• Methodology: A telephone-online hybrid combining 376 telephone and 115 online panel surveys
• Margin of error: ±5.1 percentage points 19 in 20 times
• Research Sponsor: Justason Market Intelligence.

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Photo Credit: tris