Canadians

1
Canadians Opinions on Proposed Flight Attendant
Regulations
Presented to The Strategy Project/CUPE
June 2006
2
Introduction

• POLLARA is pleased to present the following
  report of findings from telephone interviews
  conducted with a representative sample of
  Canadians.
• The purpose of the survey was to measure
  Canadians views on flight attendant regulations.
  
• CUPE added a total of two (2) questions to
  POLLARA Perspectives omnibus survey. Interviews
  were conducted with Canadians aged 18 years or
  older on May 31st and June 1st, 2006.
• In total, 1011 interviews were completed across
  the country, resulting in an overall margin of
  error of 3.1, nineteen times out of twenty.

Unweighted of Interviews Weighted of Interviews Margin of Error ()
Atlantic 78 76 11.2
Quebec 242 241 6.3
Ontario 384 380 5.0
Prairies 73 70 11.6
Alberta 98 98 10.0
B.C./Territories 136 135 8.5
Total 1011 1000 3.1
3
Maintain Canadas Current Regulation for Flight
Attendant Requirements or Match Regulations with
the U.S.?

• A majority (69) of Canadians believe the Federal
  Government should maintain Canadas current
  regulation for flight attendant requirements.

Q1 Now, Id like to ask you some questions about
Canadas airline industry. As you may know, the
Government in Ottawa is considering allowing
Canadas airlines to fly with up to 25 per cent
fewer flight attendants on certain aircraft when
they are full. This proposal would mean that
Canadas rules on flight attendant requirements
are the same as those of the United States.
However, two studies conducted by the Canadian
Government have found that passenger safety
levels would be lower as a result of fewer flight
attendants. In your opinion, should the
Government in Ottawa .?
4
Maintain Canadas Current Regulation for Flight
Attendant Requirements or Match Regulations with
the U.S.?, by Genderation

• Men are more likely than women to think Canadas
  flight attendant regulations should match those
  of the U.S. (25 vs. 14, respectively).

Match Canadas Regulations With Those Of The U.S. For Flight Attendant Requirements Maintain Canadas Current Regulation For Flight Attendant Requirements Dont Know/ Refused
Total 19 69 12
Male 25 63 12
18 to 34 27 65 9
35 to 54 26 63 11
55 22 62 16
Female 14 75 11
18 to 34 18 73 9
35 to 54 13 75 12
55 14 75 11
5
Maintain Canadas Current Regulation for Flight
Attendant Requirements or Match Regulations with
the U.S.?, by Region

• Regionally, residents of Alberta are less likely
  than those in other regions to think Canada
  should maintain the current flight attendant
  regulations (59).
• Albertans are also the most likely to not know
  how they feel about this issue (18).

Match Canadas Regulations With Those Of The U.S. For Flight Attendant Requirements Maintain Canadas Current Regulation For Flight Attendant Requirements Dont Know/ Refused
Total 19 69 12
Atlantic 17 77 7
Quebec 16 71 13
Ontario 21 69 10
Prairies 21 68 11
Alberta 22 59 18
B.C./Territories 17 71 12
6
Whether Canadian Airlines Should Lower their
Safety Standards to Stay Internationally
Competitive

• A majority (72) of Canadians oppose Canadian
  airlines lowering their safety standards,
  including 50 who strongly oppose this move to
  stay internationally competitive.

Total Oppose 72
Total Favour 20
Q2 (ROTATE) For some, including Air Canada and
WestJet, Ottawas proposal to fly with fewer
flight attendants is necessary because they think
it will help them to compete internationally.
Others think this proposal should be dropped
because they believe it will increase risks for
passengers when it comes to safety and security
in the air. Do you favour or oppose Canadian
airlines lowering their safety standards to stay
internationally competitive? (PROBE Is that
strongly or somewhat?)
7
Whether Canadian Airlines Should Lower their
Safety Standards to Stay Internationally
Competitive, by Genderation

• Men (26) are more likely than women (15) to
  favour the lowering of safety standards on
  Canadian airlines, so that they can stay
  internationally competitive.

Total Favour Total Oppose Dont Know/ Refused
Total 20 72 8
Male 26 65 9
18 to 34 26 67 7
35 to 54 28 65 6
55 24 63 12
Female 15 78 7
18 to 34 22 72 7
35 to 54 13 81 6
55 15 77 8
8
Whether Canadian Airlines Should Lower their
Safety Standards to Stay Internationally
Competitive, by Region

• There are no significant regional differences on
  this question.

Total Favour Total Oppose Dont Know/ Refused
Total 20 72 8
Atlantic 18 76 7
Quebec 19 75 6
Ontario 22 70 8
Prairies 22 65 13
Alberta 19 71 9
B.C./Territories 19 73 8
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Robert Daniel, Senior Vice President 101
Yorkville Avenue, Suite 301 Toronto, Canada M5R
1C1 Tel [phone] / Fax [phone] www.poll
ara.com