Pubdate: Fri, 15 Sep 2017
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Robert Benzie
Page: A7

POLL SHOWS SUPPORT FOR LIBERALS' POT PLAN

Government control of marijuana sales backed by 51% of respondents

Ontarians appear to be high on the sale of recreational marijuana
being restricted to a provincial government monopoly, a new poll suggests.

Campaign Research found 51 per cent of those surveyed back Premier
Kathleen Wynne's new plan to have cannabis sold solely through
standalone LCBO-operated stores and a website.

"Media and the punditocracy . . . are suggesting that it's inefficient
and it's bureaucratic and the antithesis of what most people wanted
when, in actuality, the government is doing exactly what Ontarians
want," said Eli Yufest, CEO of Campaign Research, on Thursday.

"The government appears to be on the right side of the
issue."

About a third - 35 per cent - of those polled oppose the idea and 14
per cent had no opinion.

The online poll of a panel of 1,133 Ontario voters was conducted
between last Friday - the day the weed retail scheme was unveiled -
and Monday.

It is considered accurate to within 2.9 percentage points, 19 times
out of 20.

Asked specifically where recreational marijuana should be sold after
the federal government legalizes it next July 1, respondents were divided.

A quarter - 24 per cent - said the "Cannabis Control Board of
Ontario," 10 per cent said existing LCBO stores,16 per cent said
pharmacies,19 per cent said "dispensaries," which are currently
operating illegally, while 2 per cent said convenience stores, 1 per
cent said other shops, 6 per cent didn't know, and 23 per cent oppose
any sale of marijuana.

Yufest said Wynne's decision to limit pot to 40 LCBO-operated stores
next year - rising to 150 by 2019 - appears to be contributing to her
party's slight bounce in the polls. "The minimum wage and pharmacare
and all of the other stuff that the government has been rolling out
over the last few months . . . coupled with this is what's driving
both her personal numbers and the party numbers up," he said.

With an election set for June 7, 2018, the pollster found Patrick
Brown's Progressive Conservatives at 38 per cent, Wynne's Liberals at
33 per cent, Andrea Horwath's New Democrats at 23 per cent and the
Greens led by Mike Schreiner at 6 per cent.

"We certainly see a tightening between those two parties," Yufest
said, referring to the Tories and the Liberals

Wynne's personal approval ratings are still the lowest of the three
major party leaders.

The premier had 19 per cent approval, 67 per cent disapproval, and 14
per cent weren't sure.

Brown had 28 per cent approval, 22 per cent disapproval, and 50 per
cent didn't know.

Horwath led the pack with 37 per cent approval, 19 per cent
disapproval, and 43 per cent had no opinion.

Yufest said the fact that half of respondents did not have any opinion
on Brown suggests the Tories' recent seven-figure television ad blitz
has not had much impact.

The slick commercials, which have aired during major league sporting
events and prime-time programs, were designed to introduce the leader
to voters.

"Those messages aren't breaking through and they're not resonating
among the electorate, so whatever messages they put out there or
whatever TV ads they bought don't seem to be breaking through," he
said.

"It doesn't seem to be translating into higher awareness about Patrick
Brown."
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MAP posted-by: Matt