HALIFAX:  HRM residents show strong support for a plebiscite on dividing the municipality, according to the most recent survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates, Inc.  Seven in ten residents (71%) living across the Halifax Regional Municipality would support holding a plebiscite that would ask citizens to decide whether or not to divide the HRM into two municipal units. There is widespread support for such a plebiscite across all demographic groups by age, gender, income and education levels.

At the same time, the majority of residents living in HRM continue to support the division of the municipality into two municipal units, one for rural residents called the County of Halifax, and one for urban residents called the City of Halifax (54%, compared with 55% three months ago). Meanwhile, one-third oppose de-amalgamation (35%, compared with 36%).

The level of support for such a division has been largely unchanged since 2006 and continues to be highest in the former City of Halifax and in the most rural parts of HRM outside of Dartmouth, Bedford and Sackville.

These results are part of the CRA Halifax Urban Report, an independent survey of Halifax Regional Municipality adult residents. The results are based on a sample of 401 adult residents, conducted from November 5 to November 20, 2009, with results accurate to within +4.9 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times.

For more information, please contact: Don Mills, President and CEO at (902) 493-3820.