POLL EMBARGOED UNTIL MAY 3RD, 6 AM PST

Protecting BC’s
Wild Salmon
3rd May 2018
METHODOLOGY
The analysis in this report is based on a survey
conducted between April 10th, 2018 and April
15th, 2018, among a sample of 1496 adults, 18
years of age or older, living in the province of
British Columbia. The survey was conducted
using live agents using Computer Assisted
Dialing. Respondents were interviewed
on both landlines and cellular phones. The
survey is weighted to represent the voting
population of British Columbia.
This survey was conducted by Mainstreet
Research and was sponsored by Wild First.
The sampling frame for the survey was
derived from both a national telephone
directory compiled by Mainstreet Research
from various commercially available sources
and random digit dialing. The survey that
dialed from the directory was conducted as
a stratified dial of the CIty of Vancouver, the
Vancouver suburbs, Vancouver Island, and
the rest of British Columbia. In the case of
random digit dials, respondents were asked
the additional question of what region of
the country they resided in. In each case,
respondents were dialed at random.
The margin of error for the first survey is +/-
2.53% and is accurate 19 times out of 20.
(full methodology appears at the end of this
report)
ABOUT MAINSTREET
With 20 years of political experience in all
three levels of government, President and CEO
Quito Maggi is a respected commentator on
international public affairs.
Differentiated by its large sample sizes,
Mainstreet Research has provided accurate
snapshots of public opinion, having predicted
a majority NDP government in Alberta, and
was the only polling firm to correctly predict
a Liberal majority government in the 2015
federal election. Mainstreet also accurately
predicted the Miami & New York City Mayoral
elections in November 2017, and the Alabama
special election in 2017. Mainstreet Research is
a member of the World Association for Public
Opinion Research and meets international and
Canadian publication standards.
CONTACT INFORMATION
In Ottawa:
Quito Maggi, President
quito@mainstreetresearch.ca
In Toronto:
Dr. Joseph Angolano, Vice President
joseph@mainstreetresearch.ca
Find us online at:
www.mainstreetresearch.ca
twitter.com/MainStResearch
facebook.com/mainstreetresearch
Open-Net Pen Salmon Farms a “Bad Deal” for BC say 9 in 10 BC Residents

VANCOUVER, May 2, 2018 – A Mainstreet Research poll of BC residents shows that an overwhelming
majority of BC residents who have an opinion (86%) think the BC government is getting a bad deal
from open-net pen salmon farms.

“Over three quarters of residents have an opinion on whether rents paid by BC salmon farmers are a
good deal or not. Of those, a full 86 percent think it’s a raw deal for BC,” said Quito Maggi, President
and CEO of Mainstreet Research.

“We also surveyed how much British Columbians thought salmon farmers should pay in rent to use
public BC coastal waters, and almost half thought it should be over $5000 a month or more”, Maggi
continued. “Current rates average $1344. There is a significant gap between what BC residents
expect salmon farms pay and what they actually pay. This perceived injustice is driving public
opinion to support an immediate ban on open-net fish farms.”

The survey also revealed that supporters of all major federal and provincial party lines feel that that
the low rents is a bad deal, much like a strong majority of all federal and provincial party supporters
think that protecting wild salmon is important.

“This study clearly shows that BC residents think protecting wild salmon is important, that
governments at all levels are doing too little, and that the financial benefits to the province are
simply not there”, Maggi concluded.

“Open-net pen salmon farmers have been saying for years that the economic benefits outweigh
the disease transfer and environmental devastation caused by open pen aquaculture. These polling
results show that an overwhelming majority of BC residents disagree even on purely economic
grounds,” said Tavish Campbell from the Wild First coalition, known for his widely-publicized exposé
of disease-ridden fish farm blood being expelled into wild salmon migration routes in BC.

“British Columbians clearly want to see a move toward sustainable land based aquaculture to
minimize ecological impact, and to ensure salmon farmers are paying their fair share”, concluded
Campbell.

The survey findings are part of a larger survey commissioned by Wild First that looks at provincial
and federal issues with further details released in the days ahead.

About Wild First

Wild First is a campaign powered by concerned Canadians, business leaders, scientists, and allies
who understand that the current salmon farming practices are putting the health of our coastal
ecosystem at grave risk.

Wild First is calling for government, industry, and the scientific community to come together and
transition West Coast salmon farming to sustainable closed containment aquaculture by 2025.
Doing so will protect threatened salmon runs from the pollution and disease transfer of current
open net pens, and will preserve wild salmon as a keystone species that supports the wider and
vitally important Pacific marine aquatic ecosystem.

-30-

For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Quito Maggi, quito@mainstreetresearch.ca
Executive Summary
More than half (53%) guessed the cost of rent for open net-pen salmon
farmers was less than $5,000 a month. Men (58%) were more likely
than women (50%) to guess the cost of rent was below $5,000 a
month, while those under the age of 35 were more likely than those
older to guess a number that exceeded $5,000 a month. Regionally,
those on Vancouver Island (60%) were most likely to guess the rent
for these spaces was below $5,000 a month.

Upon hearing the average rent was $1,354 a month, almost two-in-
three (64%) said it was a bad deal for the British Columbia government.
A further 10% said they felt it was a good deal for the BC government,
while the remaining 26% were unsure.

Women (70%) are more likely than men (59%) to say the average
rental price is a bad deal for the government, while regionally, those
in the suburbs of Vancouver are less likely than those living elsewhere
to answer in kind. Across the political spectrum, federal Conservatives
(58%) are less likely than Liberals (63%) to say it’s a bad deal. However,
New Democrats (72%) and Greens (76%) are more negative on the
deal. Similarly, provincial New Democrats (73%) and Greens (76%)
are more likely than their counterparts to feel the average rent is a
bad deal for the BC government.
 The average cost of renting in Greater Vancouver is $2020 for a one bedroom,
that is approximately 700 sq ft. Across the rest of BC, these rates are $650 to
$1500 for a one bedroom. Commercial, industrial and agricultural rates have a
similar range. The average open net-pen salmon farm is 150,000 square feet,
the size of three football fields. What do you think open net-pen salmon farmers
pay per month to rent space on the coastal waters of British Columbia? ased or
consumed wild salmon?
(broken out by age - gender - region)

Overall 53% 12% 10% 6% 8% 12%

Men 58% 10% 7% 6% 7% 12%

Women 50% 13% 11% 7% 9% 11%

Non-binary 22% 15% 26% 11% 5% 20%

18-34 44% 13% 11% 7% 9% 15%

35-49 54% 11% 8% 8% 9% 11%

50-64 59% 11% 10% 5% 6% 10%

65+ 56% 12% 9% 6% 7% 10%

City of Vancouver 48% 11% 8% 7% 11% 14%

Vancouver Suburbs 56% 9% 11% 6% 8% 11%

Vancouver Island 60% 14% 8% 3% 6% 9%

Rest of BC 48% 14% 9% 8% 7% 13%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

<$5k/month Up to $6k/month Up to $7k/month Up to $8k/month Up to $9k/month More than $9k/month

 The average cost of renting in Greater Vancouver is $2020 for a one bedroom,
that is approximately 700 sq ft. Across the rest of BC, these rates are $650 to
$1500 for a one bedroom. Commercial, industrial and agricultural rates have a
similar range. The average open net-pen salmon farm is 150,000 square feet, the
size of three football fields. What do you think open net-pen salmon farmers pay
per month to rent space on the coastal waters of British Columbia?
(broken out by federal voting intentions - provincial voting intentions)

Overall 53% 12% 10% 6% 8% 12%

Liberal - Trudeau 51% 13% 10% 8% 9% 9%

Conservative - Scheer 56% 11% 8% 5% 9% 10%

NDP - Singh 51% 12% 10% 8% 4% 15%

Green - May 52% 12% 10% 6% 6% 14%

BC Liberal - Wilkinson 55% 11% 11% 7% 7% 9%

BC NDP - Horgan 55% 13% 9% 5% 5% 13%

BC Green - Weaver 47% 12% 13% 6% 8% 14%

BC Conservative - Anderson 53% 14% 3% 7% 11% 11%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

<$5k/month Up to $6k/month Up to $7k/month Up to $8k/month Up to $9k/month More than $9k/month

 The actual cost paid by open net-pen salmon farmers to the BC
government is an average of $1354.00 per month, to rent 150,000
sq feet of ocean space, that’s the size of three football fields. In your
opinion, is this a good deal or a bad deal for the province of British
Columbia?
(broken out by age - gender - region)

Overall 10% 64% 26%

Men 15% 59% 26%

Women 6% 70% 25%

Non-binary 6% 43% 51%

18-34 7% 63% 30%

35-49 12% 65% 23%

50-64 10% 66% 24%

65+ 10% 62% 28%

City of Vancouver 8% 70% 21%

Vancouver Suburbs 12% 59% 30%

Vancouver Island 8% 68% 24%

Rest of BC 9% 65% 25%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

A good deal A bad deal Not sure

 The actual cost paid by open net-pen salmon farmers to the BC
government is an average of $1354.00 per month, to rent 150,000
sq feet of ocean space, that’s the size of three football fields. In your
opinion, is this a good deal or a bad deal for the province of British
Columbia?
(broken out by federal voting intentions - provincial voting intentions)

Overall 10% 64% 26%

Men 15% 59% 26%

Women 6% 70% 25%

Non-binary 6% 43% 51%

Liberal - Trudeau 10% 63% 27%

Conservative - Scheer 16% 58% 27%

NDP - Singh 3% 72% 26%

Green - May 5% 76% 19%

BC Liberal - Wilkinson 17% 56% 28%

BC NDP - Horgan 6% 73% 21%

BC Green - Weaver 76% 22%

BC Conservative - Anderson 13% 59% 27%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

A good deal A bad deal Not sure

Breakouts
Crosstabbed with gender, age, region, federal voting intention, provincial voting
intention, and importance of protecting wild salmon

The average cost of renting in Greater Vancouver is $2020 for a one bedroom, that is
approximately 700 sq ft. Across the rest of BC, these rates are $650 to $1500 for a one
bedroom. Commercial, industrial and agricultural rates have a similar range. The average
open net-pen salmon farm is 150,000 square feet, the size of three football fields. What do
you think open net-pen salmon farmers pay per month to rent space on the coastal waters of
British Columbia?
Non- 18- 35- 50- City of Vancouver Vancouver Rest of
Overall Men Women 65+
binary 34 49 64 Vancouver Suburbs Island BC
<$5k/month 53% 58% 50% 22% 44% 54% 59% 56% 48% 56% 60% 48%
Up to $6k/month 12% 10% 13% 15% 13% 11% 11% 12% 11% 9% 14% 14%
Up to $7k/month 10% 7% 11% 26% 11% 8% 10% 9% 8% 11% 8% 9%
Up to $8k/month 6% 6% 7% 11% 7% 8% 5% 6% 7% 6% 3% 8%
Up to $9k/month 8% 7% 9% 5% 9% 9% 6% 7% 11% 8% 6% 7%
More than
12% 12% 11% 20% 15% 11% 10% 10% 14% 11% 9% 13%
$9k/month
Unweighted
1496 766 701 29 121 298 540 537 190 506 300 500
Frequency
Weighted Frequency 1496 693 771 31 402 397 407 290 255 533 264 444

Liberal - Conservative - NDP - Green - BC Liberal - BC NDP - BC Green - BC Conservative -

Trudeau Scheer Singh May Wilkinson Horgan Weaver Anderson
<$5k/month 51% 56% 51% 52% 55% 55% 47% 53%
Up to $6k/month 13% 11% 12% 12% 11% 13% 12% 14%
Up to $7k/month 10% 8% 10% 10% 11% 9% 13% 3%
Up to $8k/month 8% 5% 8% 6% 7% 5% 6% 7%
Up to $9k/month 9% 9% 4% 6% 7% 5% 8% 11%
More than
9% 10% 15% 14% 9% 13% 14% 11%
$9k/month
Unweighted
363 567 206 164 567 418 206 152
Frequency
Weighted
334 532 269 167 497 424 237 168
Frequency

The actual cost paid by open net-pen salmon farmers to the BC government is an average of
$1354.00 per month, to rent 150,000 sq feet of ocean space. That’s the size of three football
fields. In your opinion, is this a good deal or a bad deal for the province of British Columbia?
Non- 18- 35- 50- City of Vancouver Vancouver Rest of
Overall Men Women 65+
binary 34 49 64 Vancouver Suburbs Island BC
A good deal 10% 15% 6% 6% 7% 12% 10% 10% 8% 12% 8% 9%
A bad deal 64% 59% 70% 43% 63% 65% 66% 62% 70% 59% 68% 65%
Not sure 26% 26% 25% 51% 30% 23% 24% 28% 21% 30% 24% 25%
Unweighted
1496 766 701 29 121 298 540 537 190 506 300 500
Frequency
Weighted Frequency 1496 693 771 31 402 397 407 290 255 533 264 444

Liberal - Conservative - NDP - Green - BC Liberal - BC NDP - BC Green - BC Conservative -

Trudeau Scheer Singh May Wilkinson Horgan Weaver Anderson
A good deal 10% 16% 3% 5% 17% 6% 2% 13%
A bad deal 63% 58% 72% 76% 56% 73% 76% 59%
Not sure 27% 27% 26% 19% 28% 21% 22% 27%
Unweighted
363 567 206 164 567 418 206 152
Frequency
Weighted
334 532 269 167 497 424 237 168
Frequency
Questionnaire
The average cost of renting in Greater Vancouver is $2020 for a one bedroom, that is
approximately 700 sq ft. Across the rest of BC, these rates are $650 to $1500 for a one
bedroom. Commercial, industrial and agricultural rates have a similar range. The average
open net-pen salmon farm is 150,000 square feet, the size of three football fields. What
do you think open net-pen salmon farmers pay per month to rent space on the coastal
waters of British Columbia?
<$5k/month
Up to $6k/month
Up to $7k/month
Up to $8k/month
Up to $9k/month
More than $9k/month

The actual cost paid by open net-pen salmon farmers to the BC government is an
average of $1354.00 per month, to rent 150,000 sq feet of ocean space. That’s the size
of three football fields. In your opinion, is this a good deal or a bad deal for the province
of British Columbia?
A good deal
A bad deal
Not sure

What is your gender?

Male
Female
Non-binary

What is your age group?

Under 18 years of age
18 to 34 years of age
35 to 49 years of age
50 to 64 years of age
65 years of age or older
Methodology
The analysis in this report is based on a survey conducted between April 12th, 2018 and April
15th, 2018, among a sample of 1496 adults, 18 years of age or older, living in the province of
British Columbia. The survey was conducted using live interviewers using Computer Assisted
Dialing. Respondents were interviews on both landlines and cellular phones. The survey is
intended to represent the voting population of British Columbia.

This survey was conducted by Mainstreet Research and was sponsored by Wild First.

The sampling frame for the survey was derived from both a national telephone directory
compiled by Mainstreet Research from various commercially available sources and random
digit dialing. The survey that dialed from the directory was conducted as a stratified dial of
the City of Vancouver, Vancouver suburbs, Vancouver Island, and the rest of British Columbia.
In the case of random digit dials, respondents were asked the additional question of what
region of the country they resided in. In each case, respondents were dialed at random.

At least two attempts were made to complete an interview at every sampled telephone
number. In the case of the first survey, the calls were staggered over times of day and four
days to maximize the chances of making contact with a potential respondent. In the case
of the first survey, the calls were staggered over times of day and four days to maximize
the chances of making contact with a potential respondent. The previous statement also
applies to the second and third part of this survey, only the fourth part, a test sample was
conducted over just three days. Interviewing was also spread as evenly as possible across
the field period.

The questionnaire used in this survey is available in this report and online at www.
mainstreetresearch.ca. Questions are asked as they appear in the release document. If
a question is asked of a subset of the sample a descriptive note is added in parenthesis
preceding the question. The questions in this report are part of a larger survey sponsored by
WildFirst.ca of which the results will be released in the coming days and weeks.

The sample of the survey was weighted by population parameters from the Canada 2016
Census for adults 18 years of age or older in Canada. The population parameters used for
weighting are age, gender, and region.

The margin of error for the first poll is +/- 2.53% at the 95% confidence level. Margins of error
are higher in each subsample.

Totals may not add up 100% due to rounding.

In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that the wording of questions and
practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of
opinion polls. Moreover, all sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of
error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.