Released on July 9, 1997
The provincial government today released its polling results for thelast quarter which sought public opinion in areas such as the
provincial economy, health care, education and tourism.
This quarterly release contains the results of two general omnibus
surveys. Some of the findings show:
40 per cent of respondents plan to take an out-of-province vacation
this summer and of those, 56 per cent plan to go to Alberta and
British Columbia. Forty-nine per cent plan to take a vacation in
Saskatchewan lasting less than a week while 35 per cent plan to
take a Saskatchewan vacation of 1 week or more.(April Omnibus)
Survey respondents felt the most important issues facing Canada
today are jobs and unemployment (35 per cent), national unity (13
per cent) and debt (12 per cent) (April Omnibus).
Survey respondents felt the most important issues facing
Saskatchewan today are jobs and unemployment (27 per cent), health
care (20 per cent) and taxes (9 per cent) (April Omnibus).
66 per cent of respondents approve of the way the provincial
government speaks up for the province on the national scene while
61 per cent approve of government's management of provincial
finances and 49 per cent approve of its management of elementary
and high school education (April Omnibus).
A large majority of respondents gave very high approval
ratings for the provincial budget's main features: 91 per cent
approve of increased spending on highways, 93 per cent approve
of the reduced provincial sales tax, 88 per cent approve of
increased spending on health care, 86 per cent approve of
increased spending on programs for poor and vulnerable
children, and 86 per cent approve of increased spending on
schools and universities.
76 per cent of respondents think Saskatchewan's K-12 education
system is the same or better than the rest of the country
(April Omnibus). 56 per cent believe elementary education is
good or excellent while 48 per cent believe the high school
system is good or excellent.
73 per cent of respondents received health services in the
past year and 82 per cent rated the quality of the health
services they received as good or excellent.
Also released with the results was the cost of conducting the
surveys. Total cost for public opinion polling and survey
research conducted by the provincial government during this past
quarter was $24,020. This compares with annual expenditures in
past years as follows:
Fiscal Year Expenditures
1990-91 $939,173
1991-92 $439,803
1992-93 $284,038
1993-94 $263,455
1994-95 $331,300
1995-96 $164,600
1996-97 $220,260
1997-98 $24,020
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For more information, contact:
Brian Topp
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Premier
Executive Council
Regina Phone: (306)787-1126