Protection within the Communication System
Public Opinion Research

Quantitative Research Report

Prepared for the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

POR #: POR 045-14
Contract Number: 82082-150021/001/CY
Contract Award Date: March 2, 2015
Report Date: March 31, 2015

Ce rapport est aussi disponible en français.

communications@crtc.gc.ca

Proprietary Warning

Any material or information provided by the CRTC and all data collected by Harris/Decima will be treated as confidential by Harris/Decima and will be stored securely while on Harris/Decima's premise (adhering to industry standards and applicable laws).

Executive Summary

Harris/Decima is pleased to present this report to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) highlighting the findings from the “Protection within the Communication System” research study.

As set out in the CRTC’s Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for 2014-15, the CRTC’s strategic outcome is to ensure that Canadians have access to a world class communication system. The programs supporting this strategic outcome include: "Canadian Content Creation," "Connection to the Communication System" and "Protection Within the Communication System." These programs form the three pillars of the CRTC: create, connect and protect.

In order to report on its performance against the Protect pillar, the CRTC needed reliable data on the "Percentage of Canadians who consider that the CRTC is taking measures to enhance their safety and protection in the communication system" (the performance indicator).

Surveys were conducted with the general Canadian population, targeting adults, 18 years of age and over, across Canada between March 12^th and March 16^th, 2015 (in English and French) using our telephone omnibus study. The sample was a probability sample and as such can be extrapolated to the Canadian population with a margin of error of +/-3.1%, 19 times out of 20.

The key findings based on the survey results are presented below.

Mandate and Role of Protection of the CRTC

• More than half of Canadians (54%) do not feel informed about the CRTC’s mandate to ensure Canadians’ safety and protection in the communication system.
  • Merely one in ten Canadians (9%) feel they are very well informed and slightly more than a third (35%) feel they are well informed.

• Canadians over 35 are significantly more informed than those 18-34.
  • Those 35 to 54 years of age (49%) and those 55 and over (48%) are more informed than those 18-34 (32%).
  • Those 18-34 are almost half as likely to be informed, with more than twice as many uninformed (68%) than informed (32%).

CRTC Performance (unaided)

• Two in three Canadians (66%) agree that the CRTC is taking measures to enhance the safety and protection of Canadians in the communication system, unprompted.
  • With no information provided regarding the specific activities being carried out by the CRTC, 11% of Canadians are unsure if the CRTC is taking measures to enhance safety.
• Quebec is significantly more likely to agree (76%) than Ontario or BC (61% each).
• Younger Canadians, aged 18-34 (15%) are more likely to be unsure than those 35-54 (8%) or 55+ (11%).

CRTC Performance (aided)

• After hearing about activities being carried out by the CRTC, almost three in four Canadians agree (73%) that the CRTC is taking measures to enhance safety.
  • Prompted, merely 4% of Canadians were unsure if the CRTC is taking measures to enhance safety.
• Ontario is significantly less likely to agree (62%) than the Prairies (73%), Atlantic Canada (76%), BC (77%) and Quebec (87%).
  • Quebec is also significantly more likely to strongly agree (44%) after hearing about activities being carried out by the CRTC.

Additional Analysis

• The percentage moved upward from 66% unaided to 73% when aided, when looking at the level of agreement with the CRTC taking measures to enhance the safety and protection of Canadians in the communication system.
  • The percentage of those who are unsure drops from 11% (unaided) to a mere 4% (aided).
• Four in five (80%) of those who report being informed about the CRTC agree that it is taking measures to protect Canadians when asked before being read the list of CRTC activities.
  • After the list of activities is read to them, virtually the same percentage (78%) say they agree.
  • This indicates that additional information being provided to those who were already informed about the CRTC has little to no effect upon their level of agreement.
• Those who are not informed about the mandate and role of protection of the CRTC, and who say the CRTC is taking measures to protect Canadians when asked before being read the list of CRTC activities is lower (56%) than those who are informed (80%).
  • When asked after hearing the list of activities carried out by the CRTC, agreement increases to 69%.
  • This indicates that a small amount of additional information about the CRTC’s role among those who are less aware, can potentially have a strong impact on agreement and shape opinions in a positive way.

Research Firm: Harris/Decima Inc.
Contract Number: 82082-150021/001/CY
Contract Award Date: March 2, 2015
Contract Value: $6,394.66 (Incl. taxes)

Danielle Armengaud, Research Director
Harris/Decima Inc.