Polling research { finding, support for Lions Gate 7 crossing tolls defended. ‘ By. lan Noble

ews. Rep reer don@ninews.com

NORTH Shore Liberal MLA Katheri ine. Whittred dismissed a poll showing.

the ork of n NDP- linked firm:

But the polli g company, "Vancouver-based - wpoints: Research ‘Ltd. , said its polls are-done

“as

Mise

ie

4 scientifici y. and rebuked Whittred for her attack 7 &

nthe firm's Ye The, survey dents prefer. tol crossing ie According to:the , au of the’ 1, 500 ‘people iterviewed preferred debt to finance the crossing. |.

72% of Greater Vancouver re fer debe: to pay for a ‘new Lion

A. sample of 300:3 North s Shore. residents showed

45 Supported tolls : lews ‘poll sy; don in same ‘January. “February-0f1997. period, show.43,4%:of the’ 32 orth. ‘Shore 1 sidents polled support:tolls. to help” : “costs, weary 37% wer tolls and 20%, did 1 not. know.

OINtS.

ve people vill tol ect tod h

Whittred added Viewpoints is’ “the NDP 4 “polling firm” and, therefore she said tt sas alniost

ono credibility, “ - "But Viewpoints nartner “Steven ‘engison strongly challenged Whittred’s as

on 1 take this as almost slanderous ‘and libélous against me_ personally because hen Ido researel > Pdon’t care who my client is,” he said. “P'do the work-and ask the questions as- fairly as] cath and: _these questions are.public record.” 7.’ ; . “A she’s § accusing | ime of cooking this, I tak : “turther action, he sald. eee ey He said the results of the survey

it vo WH stand) up against: anybody's ;« majority, ‘approval of First Narrows tolls,

sresearch, 4h " Rengtson; who belongs t to, mare! keting. societies - and majored: in. psychology. and ‘statistics, added: the survey’ was done swith: a very. . ‘large’ sample size-so that-it could.

“A be done with “some certainty,”

“To attack the research firm for: delivering: the * message, is ridicu- lous,”:he said.

Bengtson”. charged Whittred

th trying to. turn the poll into a: political” issu ‘by. -attacking * the: ve polling firm. ° :

“West. Vancouver ‘Mayo Pat’ Boname: criticized the poll because it ‘did not r talk 10 “enough commutets,’ who will’ be: the ‘ones Pay: ing the. tolls if they a imposed,

If 1 never. go 'to-a Lions football : gamié or as Cariucks: game J would be happy hould be:$100.a seat,” she said, 41

n’t-have to > pay the

Heweret a, thes

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Open 10- 6. ‘Mon- Sat.

atitet Nort! Vancouve 355, West: Queens. Road

a the. G

vsay, yes, it, if \

of 146 frequent users on the Norifi Shore, 60% sty pay with tolls while 2 29%, sayse, taxes: of bore

BG.

ofl Wi

“According tithe: "Transportation.

* Financing Authority, the survey helped shape the:

decisions: that led:to ‘Transportation: Minister Lats Boone's annotinceinent in. April that capped gover

‘ernment contributions to auly new! project at: ‘$70

‘millions: ; The survey. a also revealed: 7 - 62%. of respondents said: they rarely or’ ised the bridge and another 16% said they us a bridge once a month or less}: mi: vm of Gre ter Vancouver four-lane bridg : should tbe biti compar the: 7 a on the North Shor

ie a atunnel, valle 48% :

replaced with: t Shore opt for he

North,

Vancouver. prefer; bridge by’a 47% to 33%! ‘margin; Mand 54% of, Greater Vancouver

“residents ‘surveyed » would * over.a $2 toll’ ‘Vv wpoin nple* was ‘generated random digital’ dialing and th margin, of-error 0 er. Vancouver. sample was: said to be-plus _ or.minus, 2,6%!'19 times ou 20 :

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