Housing promises key to influencing votes in Ontario election: Poll

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Nearly 70% of Ontario residents say a party’s position on solving the housing crisis will influence their vote when they cast ballots for a new provincial government on Thursday, according to a new poll.

In addition to finding housing promises will influence the votes of 69% of respondents, the poll — conducted for Royal LePage — found the number jumps even higher when it comes to millennials (75%) and the GenZ cohort (72%).

“Since the onset of the pandemic-induced real estate boom in 2020, housing affordability has been a growing concern, particularly in the country’s most expensive and supply-strapped markets – Toronto and Vancouver,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage.

“With affordability challenges reaching a crisis level, it comes as no surprise that voters – especially younger Canadians – are prioritizing housing policies as they head to the polls.”

The survey found 38% of Ontarians would consider relocating within Ontario for more affordable housing, with 20% considering a move outside the province.

In addition to housing, health care, government spending and crime are ranked among the top concerns for voters in this election.

Conducted Feb. 10-17, Hill & Knowlton relied on the Leger Opinion online panel to survey 1,000 residents of Ontario, ages 18 and older. For comparative purposes, a probability sample of this size has a margin of error of 3%, 19 times out of 20.