Poll suggests Manitobans are worried about costs, less confident in institutions

WINNIPEG — Manitobans are increasingly concerned about the cost of living and crime and are becoming less confident in the justice system and public service, a survey commissioned by the provincial government suggests.

The benchmark survey, conducted by polling firm Leger, is normally conducted every few months and gives the government insight into the public’s top concerns and desires.

The online survey prepared in March was recently obtained by The Canadian Press under the province’s Freedom of Information Act.

The biggest source of concern among the 800 survey respondents was the rising cost of items such as housing, food and petrol, with 81% saying they were worried – up from 78% and 71% in two surveys earlier this year last.

Waiting time for health care was the second biggest concern at 71%, which was not much changed, and crime and public safety was third at 66%, up 11 points from a year ago before.

Financial worries were common despite the province’s low unemployment rate, hovering around five percent, and relatively affordable housing. The median home price in May in Manitoba was $371,224, compared to the national average of $699,117, recent data from the Canadian Real Estate Association shows.

More than half of respondents were discouraged about Manitoba’s economic outlook, and six in 10 were either discouraged or very uncertain about the outlook for their personal financial situation.

The survey was conducted between February 21 and February 27. A margin of error cannot be assigned because online surveys are not considered to be truly random samples.

An economic expert said people have been hit on three fronts since the COVID-19 pandemic – high inflation, a rise in interest rates and rising energy prices.

“Prior to the last couple of years, we had a fairly long period of relatively low or even falling inflation rates and extremely low interest rates,” said Fletcher Baragar, associate professor of economics at the University of Manitoba.

“There is reason for some optimism going forward. But changes like lower interest rates and lower inflation rates – these will be gradual.”

Recent data from Statistics Canada said the overall inflation rate in Manitoba is low, in part because of the government’s nine-month suspension of the provincial fuel tax that began Jan. 1, but the inflation rate for food purchased in stores exceeded the national level. average.

When asked what the government’s top priority should be to make life more affordable, 14% of survey respondents cited the fuel tax holiday. Twice as many said the government should focus on making housing affordable.

The survey also suggests that Manitobans are more wary of some public institutions. More than half said they trusted the police and civil service, but the figures for both were down 10 points from a year earlier.

Less than half of respondents said they trust unions, provincial politicians, the justice system, courts and the media. Almost half said they did not trust the government to act in the public interest.

Scoring highest for trust were local businesses at 80% and local nonprofits and charities at 71%.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 7, 2024.

Steve Lambert, Canadian Press