June 2010
Prepared for: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Contract Number: G9180-9-0012/001/CY
POR Number: POR091-09
Date of Contract Award: 2010-02-10
Date Field Work Completed: March 27, 2010
Cost (including GST): $112,928.45
For more information please contact HRSDC at: nc-por-rop-gd@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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Prepared by:
Corporate Research Associates
Suite 5001, 7071 Bayers Road
Halifax NS B3L 2C2
1-888-414-1336
www.cra.ca
Corporate Research Associates, Inc.
Contract Number: G9180-9-0012/001/CY
Contract Date: 2010-02-10
Gauging public opinion on important issues to the department is essential in the development of policy, programs, and communication activities. To this end, HRSDC commissioned Corporate Research Associates, Inc. (CRA), to conduct public opinion research on core mandate issues as well as new and emerging issues. This study sought to examine three emerging issues (i.e., Social Partnerships, the Retirement Income System, and Persisting Unemployment), with the goal of utilizing the collected survey information as a means of informing policy direction as well as communications regarding these priority areas. To achieve these objectives, 1500 telephone interviews were conducted with Canadians aged 18 years and over, in the ten provinces, excluding the territories. Interviews were conducted between March 8 and March 27, 2010, with an average interview length of 18 minutes.
During and after the quantitative phase of the research, qualitative research was conducted to further explore specific departmental issues. Twelve (12) online Netfocus groups were conducted, including 10 English groups conducted in Atlantic Canada (2), Ontario (2), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (2), Alberta (2), and British Columbia (2) and two French groups in the province of Quebec. In each region, one group was conducted with residents aged 18 to 35, and one group was conducted with those aged 36 or older. All groups were conducted between March 23 and March 29, 2010. Each group lasted approximately 70 minutes.
Results from the 2010 Departmental Issues Survey identify a number of issues related to departmental priorities. Specifically, education emerges in a number of key ways as an opportunity area, in that Canadians identify a need to be educated concerning government programs and services, as well as retirement planning, and that Canadians also identify education as a way for the Government to address pending issues, and to improve prospects for finding employment. Furthermore, it is evident that there are attitudinal and behavioural differences across regions, as well as age and household income levels, and as such it would be important to address the needs of individual components of the Canadian population identified via the present research
Canadians offer mixed opinions when assessing whether it will be easier, the same, or harder to find a good job five years from now, compared with today. Quantitative results do not identify any age differences regarding opinions on this issue, while qualitative findings suggest that older Canadians do believe it will be more difficult to find employment in the future.
Investing in education is identified in both the quantitative and qualitative research as the single most important action the government could take to ensure Canada’s workforce is well-trained to meet economic challenges. A number of measures were identified to encourage the pursuit of higher education, such as easier access to student loans, training grants, lower tuition levels, and tax breaks for students.
Participants in the qualitative research also indicated that the government should focus efforts on encouraging training in key sectors where there currently are, or likely will be skills shortages, noting that offering grants and research funds to assist entrepreneurs put their ideas into action should be considered. Examples offered by these qualitative participants included green technologies and natural resource development.
Canadians in the lowest household income category (i.e., under $45,000 per year) believe they require additional education and training in order to make a comfortable living. That said, this group is also likely to believe that their skills would be transferable to another job with a minimum of additional training.
On average, Canadians expect to retire at the age of 62, with very few anticipating taking their retirement before the age of 55. It is positive to note that a majority of Canadians (albeit a small majority) relate that they take every opportunity to improve prospects for their retirement savings. However, awareness among Canadians of various retirement savings products, as well as retirement planning in general, is low. Indeed, one-quarter of Canadians report they are not very knowledgeable in regards to any of the primary retirement savings tools, including the Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan, Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), stocks, bonds, and pensions. Notably, Canadians who feel prepared for retirement are more likely than those who do not feel prepared, to be aware of various retirement savings tools.
There is a small percentage (10%) of Canadians not confident that they will have sufficient income in their retirement years. Furthermore, two in ten Canadians who are not currently fully retired do not believe they are in control of whether or not they will have enough money to live comfortably in their retirement.
Qualitative findings suggest that younger participants are less prepared for retirement than are older participants, and many younger participants do not have a retirement plan in place, partly through lack of knowledge regarding a need to prepare, and partly due to different priorities at the current stage of their life. Quantitative research also indicates that younger Canadians, as well as those who say they do not have an employer pension at the present time, are less likely to be concerned with saving for their retirement.
Canadians expect to call upon a variety of sources for their retirement income. The single most important source is an employer pension, followed by RRSPs, the Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan, and savings accounts. Canadians who say they do not currently have an employer pension plan identify RRSPs, CPP/QPP or savings accounts as primary retirement income sources. Qualitative research reinforces this finding, although few participants were aware of Old Age Security.
Online research participants offer a number of key suggestions regarding how the government could encourage Canadians to prepare for their retirement, including encouraging retirement income investments (e.g., through RRSPs), and various educational tools that could be designed to ensure Canadians are aware of the need to save from a young age.
Despite the number of ideas regarding how government could encourage Canadians to prepare for their retirement, when asked whose responsibility it is to prepare for retirement, the most predominant opinion shared by participants was that individuals themselves are responsible for saving and preparing for their retirement.
The qualitative research indicated that volunteerism is viewed as a vital aspect of communities in Canada, although the strength of this perception tends to be weaker among younger adults, and, to some extent, residents of Quebec. Younger individuals and Quebeckers had greater difficulty articulating the benefit or role of volunteers in their community. However, in general, the view that volunteers play an important role was commonly voiced by qualitative participants. Nonetheless, there was also acknowledgement that there exist significant barriers to donating time and skills for community needs, including a lack of time, commitments to family, and lack of awareness of available opportunities to volunteer.
Survey results indicate that in the past year the vast majority of Canadians have made a financial donation to a not-for-profit, charitable or other community group, and a small majority have contributed their time. Volunteering is considered an important contribution to communities, particularly in regards to social services such as food banks and homeless shelters. There is a perception that those most likely to volunteer are retired Canadians, however, quantitative data suggests that those aged 35 to 54 are as likely as those aged 55 or older to donate their time to a not-for-profit or community organization.
Canadians were asked to evaluate the potential effectiveness of four prospective government actions in terms of addressing current social and economic challenges facing the country. In general, Canadians do not perceive government involvement in encouraging volunteering, such as recognizing volunteers, or encouraging citizens or businesses to volunteer or support local organizations, as a particularly effective way for the Government of Canada to address social and economic challenges presently facing the country. Indeed, the qualitative findings suggest that the government rewarding volunteerism may encourage volunteering for the wrong reasons, in that residents may volunteer in order to receive a reward. In addition, there was some confusion as to how the government could encourage citizens or the private sector in this regard. The involvement of government was viewed by some with scepticism, while others felt that this would set an example for Canadians.