The full survey results are available by clicking here
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A community survey of Southeast New Brunswick conducted for the region’s five Chambers of Commerce shows generally favourable views among business owners and the public on the region’s quality of life and municipal services.
The Regional Index, conducted by Toronto-based strategy and research firm Navigator, was released at an event held Tuesday in Moncton. The survey includes responses from representative samples of both businesses and the public. It was carried out for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton, Albert County Chamber, Cap-Acadie Chamber, Greater Shediac Chamber, and the Memramcook Chamber.
The overall results showed business respondents were more positive than the public in many categories covered by the survey.
The survey shows 8-in-10 residents (83 per cent) in Southeast N.B. rate the overall quality of life in their community as either excellent or good. The survey showed high marks for the region as a good place to raise a family or to grow old.
Business respondents were bullish on the state of the region’s economy, with 82 per cent calling it either excellent or good, compared to only 58 per cent of public respondents.
When it comes to finding work in their trained field, 59 per cent of residents rate their community as an excellent or good place to find work.
The ratings for municipal services in the Southeast were a mixed bag. There is strong support for the efficiency of waste management collection, for the care of green spaces and the upkeep of recreational facilities. Businesses and residents viewed some municipal services less favourable, with road maintenance, police services and public transit scoring poorly. Access to healthcare also scored low.
Southeast residents hold strong beliefs about their community support for entrepreneurship, with 69 per cent feeling their community supports and encourages entrepreneurship very well or well. That view is even strong among entrepreneurs themselves, with 76% giving community support a favourable score.
Support for immigration has softened since previous surveys. While 61 per cent of business respondents says they “totally support” immigration, only 33% of public respondents say the same.
There was also a difference of opinion on affordability. Only 20 per cent of business respondents said the region was unaffordable but 40 per cent of public respondents said so.
Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton CEO Kim Wilson said the results provide a valuable snapshot into both business and public sentiment on key public policy issues.
“This research is extremely valuable to all five Chambers because it helps inform their advocacy work in the year ahead,” Wilson stressed. “We will be sharing the data with all levels of government to lobby for more efficient and better public services.”
Susan Innes, associate principal with Discover, the research division of Navigator, said conducting frequent check-ins with both the business community and public are important to communities and organizations.
“Research is vitally important to communities like Southeast New Brunswick as it spotlights opportunity areas and facilitates fact-based planning,” Innes said. “Coming together at an event like this where these findings are discussed is a great way to community build.”
The survey was conducted from Oct. 9 to Nov. 11 with 200 public respondents and 196 business respondents. A completely random survey with this sample size (n=396) would yield a margin of error of +/-5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. For statistical reliability, quotas and weighting were employed for the general population with regards to gender and age.