Survey Reveals Most Torontonians Agree Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Great for Toronto's Economy

TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - An annual survey to be released Monday August 27 by the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) and conducted by Ipsos Reid reveals that two thirds (69 per cent) of Torontonians 'agree' that the airport is an 'economic engine of the city'.

The public opinion survey, which was conducted between July 24 and August 5, 2012, has been conducted since 2007 and polled a representative, randomly-selected sample of 700 adults living in Toronto, included 300 who live downtown, South of Queen Street.

Eight in ten (83 per cent) of those surveyed also 'agree' that Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA) 'is great for the economy of Toronto' - including 85 per cent of those living downtown south of Queen. Additionally, many of the city's residents (84 per cent) believe the airport is a great gateway, with the majority (87 per cent) saying it is a valuable asset for the city.

Some of the 2012 survey's other key findings are:

• Eight in ten (81 per cent) Toronto residents 'agree' that 'Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is an important part of Toronto's future economic growth'
• Eighty seven per cent 'agree' that BBTCA is 'a valuable asset for the city'
• Nearly half of all downtown residents (50 per cent north of Queen; 45 per cent south of Queen) have used BBTCA
• Nine in ten (89 per cent) Torontonians 'agree' that 'the Toronto Port Authority provides important economic benefits to the City of Toronto'
• When asked about the activities in which the TPA is involved, three quarters (77 per cent) of residents 'agree' that the TPA 'is a forward-thinking organization'

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Toronto Port Authority. For the survey, the representative randomly-selected sample of 700 adults living in Toronto was interviewed by telephone. Ipsos employed weighting to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflected that of the adult population according to Census data.

A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100 per cent response rate would have an estimated margin of error of sample of ± 3.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population of Toronto been polled.

The margin of error would be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to, methodology change, coverage error and measurement error.

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader and the country's leading provider of public opinion research. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 300 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in Canada, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and on-line panels. Ipsos Reid's Canadian marketing research and public affairs practices are staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, offering the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada—including the Ipsos Trend Report, the leading source of public opinion in the country—all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group. To learn more, visit www.ipsos.ca.

About Toronto Port Authority

Toronto Port Authority was incorporated on June 8, 1999 as a government business enterprise under the Canada Marine Act as the successor to the Toronto Harbour Commissioners. It is a federal public authority providing transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses. The TPA owns and operates the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Marine Terminals 51 and 52, and the Outer Harbour Marina. The TPA also provides regulatory controls and public works services to enhance the safety and efficiency of marine navigation and aviation in the port and harbour of Toronto.

Full tabular results will be available at www.ipsos.ca or www.torontoport.com on Monday August 27, 2012.

SOURCE: Toronto Port Authority

John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
[phone]