With political campaigns ramping up and the 42nd Ontario General Election just around the corner, Scholars Portal is using the month of May to feature datasets touching on Ontario elections over several decades. Starting with a Gallup opinion poll from 1945 and ending with an exit survey of the last election produced by Ipsos Canada, the featured datasets cover voting behaviour and party preferences of Ontarians from 1943 to 2014.
Also included in these polls are other subjects pertinent to elections, such as the debate performance of political candidates, voter attitudes towards various Ontario governments, and voter predictions of election outcomes. Some of the polls also have questions on the use of technology – with telephone ownership morphing into the use social media by voters to inform themselves. Of course, framing these polls are the contemporary social, political, and economic issues concerning Ontarians and Canadians. All of these datasets can be found via Odesi – look for Public Opinion Polls collection on the homepage to explore other polls on a variety of topics.
Canadian Gallup Poll, June 1945, #143
This Gallup Poll aims to judge the political views and voting patterns of Canadians across different demographic, geographic, social and religious groups. Topic of interest include: car ownership, election interest, phone ownership, preferred political parties, and voting behaviour in both the 1943 and 1945 Ontario elections.
Source Odesi, via Gallup Canada and the Carleton University Data Centre
Canadian Gallup Poll, August 1951, #212
This Gallup Poll asks the opinions and political views of Canadians. This survey also includes questions on sleeping patterns, government issues, and pensions. Specific topics of interest include: voting behaviour and party preference in the 1951 Ontario election; phone ownership; social security; taxation; economic aid to Spain, and union membership.
Source Odesi, via Gallup Canada and the Carleton University Data Centre
Canadian Gallup Poll, May 1959, #275
This Gallup poll seeks to collect the opinions of Canadians on several issues of importance to the country as a whole. Included in this survey are discussions on religion, and several questions on foreign trade, including opinion and awareness questions. Other topics include: preferred provincial political parties leading up to the 1959 Ontario election, voting behaviour, car ownership, recognition of China’s communist government, and whether women should be able to work in the Ministry.
Source Odesi, via Gallup Canada and the Carleton University Data Centre
Canadian Gallup Poll, March 1971, #346
This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on predominantly political and social issues. The questions ask opinions about political leaders and elections in Canada, which includes voter predictions for the 1971 Ontario election. There are also questions on such topics as women in the workplace, unemployment and pay cuts.
Source Odesi, via Gallup Canada and the Carleton University Data Centre
EFO873 [Environics Focus Ontario 1987-3]
Environics Focus Ontario (EFO) is a regular public opinion survey of Ontario residents which has been in the field since the 1986. This survey canvases Ontario residents and asks them about their voting intentions and party of preference a month before the 1987 Ontario election. Other items covered are whether or not voters watched the leaders’ debate, attention to election campaigns, voter familiarity with the platforms and policies of all major political parties, and satisfaction with the current Ontario government.
Source Odesi, via Environics Research Group and the Canadian Opinion Research Archive
EFO952 [Environics Focus Ontario 1995-2]
This EFO survey covers the opinions of Ontarians on topics such as government priorities, challenges facing the province, opinions on the election results, and voting behaviour in the 1995 Ontario election.
Source Odesi, via Environics Research Group and the Canadian Opinion Research Archive
EFO992 [Environics Focus Ontario 1999-2]
This EFO survey aims to record the opinion of Ontario residents on topics including voting behaviour in the 1999 Ontario election. Other items in the survey include advertising and media influence on the election, voter opinions on party policies and campaign promises, and voter confidence in the provincial government to provide services.
Source Odesi, via Environics Research Group and the Canadian Opinion Research Archive
EFO034 [Environics Focus Ontario 2003-4]
This EFO survey includes items on voting behaviour in the 2003 Ontario election, as well as respondent opinions on the performance of the Ontario government on issues such as the Ontario deficit, unemployment, and transportation infrastructure.
Source Odesi, via Environics Research Group and the Canadian Opinion Research Archive
2007 Ontario General Election Exit Survey
This study is an exit poll of the 39th Ontario general election, performed eleven years ago on October 10, 2007. An online survey tool was used to examine voter attitudes and preferences in the Ontario election. Respondents also provide information regarding government and party leader preferences, as well as priorities for the new government including government spending on education, developing a strategy to combat poverty, and reducing healthcare wait times.
Source Dataverse, via Ipsos Canada and Wilfrid Laurier University Library
2014 Ontario General Election 5-week Omnibus Survey
A 5-week omnibus survey conducted during the 41st Ontario election, held on June 12, 2014. Respondents provided information regarding government and party leader preferences, party support, and their use of social media to inform themselves about public policy, social and/or political issues.
Source Dataverse, via Ipsos Canada and Wilfrid Laurier University Library
2014 Ontario General Election Pre-Debate Survey/2014 Ontario General Election Post-Debate Survey
Pre- and Post- Debate surveys conducted by Ipsos Canada just prior to and just after the Leader’s Debate for the 2014 Ontario election. An online survey tool was used to examine Respondents’ perceptions of the leaders of the three major political parties, as well as their voting intentions in the election. Respondents were also queried on the leaders’ policies and their performance in the debate, and their own forecasted election outcomes.
Source Dataverse, via Ipsos Canada and Wilfrid Laurier University Library
2014 Ontario General Election Exit Survey
This study is an exit survey of the 41st Ontario election. Respondents provide information regarding their voting behaviour, issues that affected the election campaign, as well as priorities for the new government. Respondents were also queried on preferences for potential coalition government outcomes and budget spending.
Source Dataverse, via Ipsos Canada and Wilfrid Laurier University Library