Atlantic Canadians support key federal budget measures

Press Releases

Jun 16, 2015

• A majority of Atlantic Canadians support many key aspects of the recent federal budget, including an enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit, gradual reduction of the small business tax rate, and an increase of annual contribution limits to Tax-Free Savings Accounts.
• A plurality of Atlantic Canadians support reducing the minimum withdrawal amounts for Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs), although a significant minority have no opinion.

HALIFAX, NS June 16, 2015:  Atlantic Canadians are supportive of a number of key aspects of the federal budget announced this spring, according to the most recent survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc.

Residents were asked their level of support for four aspects of the budget. An enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit garnered the most support as three-quarters (74%) of Atlantic Canadians support an increase to $160 per month for children under the age of six and $60 per month for those between the ages of six and 17. A similar number (73%) support a gradual reduction of the small business tax rate, from the current 11 per cent to nine per cent by 2019, while slightly fewer (69%) support an increase of annual contribution limits to Tax-Free Savings Accounts to $10,000 from $5,500.  Finally, a plurality (47%) of Atlantic Canadians back the decision to reduce the minimum withdrawal amounts for Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs), although 21 percent of residents either did not know or did not offer an opinion on the matter.

Results for each budget measure tested are similar across the Atlantic Provinces. Results for individual Atlantic Canadian provinces are included at the end of the release.

“The majority of Atlantic Canadians support key measures in the recent federal budget related to changes in child care benefits, Tax-Free Savings Accounts, and the small business tax,” said Don Mills, Chairman and CEO of Corporate Research Associates. “While a plurality also support changes to RRIFs, a significant minority have no opinion on this change perhaps reflecting the lack of knowledge on this topic.”

These results are part of the CRA Atlantic Quarterly®, an independent, quarterly survey of Atlantic Canadians, and are based on a sample of 1502 adult Atlantic Canadians, conducted from May 11 to June 1, 2015, with overall results accurate to within ± 2.5 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times.

Corporate Research Associates (CRA), www.cra.ca, is one of Canada’s leading public opinion and market research companies. Founded in 1978, CRA is dedicated to providing clients with state-of-the-art research and strategic consulting services. CRA is a Certified Gold Seal Member of the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA), which sets stringent standards as a condition of membership, and enforces those standards through independent audits. Follow us on Twitter @CRAInsight.

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For more information, please contact:
Don Mills, Chairman and CEO, at (902) 493-3838
Margaret Brigley, President and COO at (902) 493-3830

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