Canadians Optimistic 2012 Will Be Bright

A vast majority of Canadians are anticipating positive things in 2012, a new survey suggests.

A poll done for Postmedia News and Global Television by Ipsos Reid and released Monday had 88 percent of respondents saying they felt the year will be good for themselves and their families.

A day earlier, data from the same poll showed 74 per cent of respondents judged 2011 to be a good year.

John Wright, senior vicepresident of public affairs for Ipsos Reid, said the positive views people had for both 2012 and 2011 are indicative of Canadians' appreciation of their lives compared to those who live elsewhere.

"Canadians are optimistic about the economy, about their country, about their place in the world," he said. "They have seen political turmoil and difficult times south of the border and around the world."

The survey showed 14 per cent of the people polled who didn't have a good experience in 2011 were optimistic about 2012. Wright said many of these people might be expecting better employment prospects this year, anticipating better returns on their investments or simply looking forward to more positive developments in their personal lives. Among those polled who thought 2012 would be kind to them, 26 per cent said it would be "very good" and 62 per cent said it would be "somewhat good."

Looking at the 12 per cent who were downbeat about 2012, three per cent said it would be a "very bad" year and nine per cent said it would be "somewhat bad."

Respondents in the Atlantic provinces were most optimistic about 2012, with 98 per cent of them predicting a good 2012. Elsewhere, 87 per cent of British Columbia residents were expecting a good year, along with 89 per cent of those polled in Alberta, 88 per cent of respondents in Manitoba and Saskatchewan combined, 87 per cent of Ontario residents and 88 per cent of those polled in Quebec.

Those making more money were more likely to have a positive outlook. Among respondents making $60,000 a year or more, 93 per cent said 2012 would be good, compared to 86 per cent of those making between $30,000 and $60,000, and 82 per cent of people making less than $30,000.

Among the sexes, 91 per cent of women said 2012 would be a good year, and 85 per cent of men felt this way.

Among people with children, 93 per cent thought 2012 would be good compared to 87 per cent of those without children.

The results were based on a polling done from Dec. 14-19 with 1,021 adults from an online panel. Ipsos Reid said an unweighted random sample of this size would accurately represent the population within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times in 20.