While Canadians are not currently paying too much attention to the future of the Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, most of those with an opinion on the issue are calling on the federal government to block a proposed takeover, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
Only 25 per cent of respondents have followed the story closely.
While Canadians are not currently paying too much attention to the future of the Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, most of those with an opinion on the issue are calling on the federal government to block a proposed takeover, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,014 Canadian adults, only 25 per cent of respondents say they are following stories related to the proposed takeover of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan by BHP Billiton Ltd. “very closely” or “moderately closely.”
Interest in the stories is highest in Manitoba and Saskatchewan (48%).
Across the country, one third of respondents (34%) say they support the position of Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, who has come out against the proposed takeover of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan by BHP Billiton Ltd.
Only nine per cent of respondents oppose Wall’s position, but three-in-five (58%) are undecided.
A majority of respondents in Manitoba and Saskatchewan (62%)—as well as almost half of British Columbians (48%)—endorse Wall’s position.
Three-in-ten Canadians (31%) think the federal government should block the proposed takeover of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan by BHP Billiton Ltd., while seven per cent would allow it.
Analysis
While many Canadians are not following the situation in Saskatchewan, those who express their views are siding with the position of the Premier of Saskatchewan. It is important to note that respondents in every region are more likely to urge the federal government to block the proposed takeover than to allow it to go through. British Columbians favour blocking the proposed takeover by a 17-to-1 margin.
Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com
Methodology: From October 29 to October 30, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,014 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
