Saint John voters reject corporate control of drinking water

The poll, conducted by Continuum Research for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, found that 62 percent of Saint John voters oppose a private, for-profit corporation delivering the city’s drinking water treatment services. That feeling is held intensely, with 45 percent of voters strongly opposed.

The results come as voters prepare to cast their ballots in the May 14 municipal election. The city is considering entering into a public-private partnership (P3) that would hand unprecedented control of the city’s drinking water services to a private corporation.

Support for the P3 is very weak, with only 23 percent of voters in favour – just nine percent strongly.

“This sends a clear message to all the candidates. Water is essential to life, and is too precious to trust to a corporation motivated by profit,” said CUPE New Brunswick President Daniel Légère. “Saint John’s drinking water system needs to be expanded and upgraded, but voters want this vital service to stay in public hands.”

The poll found 38 percent of voters are less likely to choose candidates who favour the P3. Only 15 percent of respondents are more likely to support a candidate who is in favour of the P3. Residents who are most likely to vote in the upcoming election are also more likely to strongly oppose the P3.

“It’s time to shine a spotlight on this crucial issue. All candidates in the election must tell Saint John voters where they stand. Experience from around the world shows that when corporations deliver water services for profit, citizens pay the price. Costs rise, accountability drops and quality can be threatened,” said Légère.

“The Federal Conservative Government is pushing P3s on municipalities like Saint John, through its agency PPP Canada. Our local representatives should stand up for public water. Together, we can solve Saint John’s drinking water needs without handing away control of our water for decades to come,” concluded Légère.

These findings are based on 1,200 interviews conducted with Saint John votersbetween April 17 and 30, 2012. The results are accurate to within +/-2.8 percent at a 95 percent level of confidence. All work undertaken by Continuum Research is conducted in accordance with the standards and guidelines of good practice established by the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA), the professional association of the public opinion research community in Canada.

Survey Questions

  1. Among all of the issues facing the City of Saint John, how important is the upgrading of the City’s drinking water treatment and delivery service? Is it…?

 

01 – A critical problem that requires immediate action………………………. 29%

02 – A significant problem that needs to be dealt with soon………………. 37%

03 – Just one of many problems government should address, or……… 26%

04 – Not really a problem………………………………………………………………………. 6%

99 – DK/NA………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2%

 

  1. There has been some discussion about transferring responsibility for city drinking water treatment services to a private, for-profit corporation. Do you support or oppose this initiative? Would that be strongly or somewhat?

 

01 – Strongly support…………………………………………………………………………… 9%

02 – Somewhat support…………………………………………………………………….. 14%

03 – Somewhat oppose……………………………………………………………………… 21%

04 – Strongly oppose…………………………………………………………………………. 45%

99 – DK/NA………………………………………………………………………………………… 15%

 

  1. If a candidate for municipal office were to support the use of a private corporation to provide drinking water treatment and delivery services in Saint John, would you be more likely to vote for this candidate, less likely to vote for this candidate, or does it make no difference how you would vote?

 

01 – More likely to support…………………………………………………………………. 15%

02 – Less likely to support………………………………………………………………….. 38%

03 – Makes no difference…………………………………………………………………… 42%

99 – DK/NA………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5%