Canadian Body Dismisses Poll Complaint

Canada's Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) has dismissed a complaint against Ottawa-based Nanos Research by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), concerning a poll used to promote legislation opposed by unions, in 2011.

The ruling last week said Nanos had not violated MRIA's standards or brought discredit to the profession, according to www.vancouversun.com . However MRIA did say that Nanos' handling of two of the questions in the poll, funded by Canadian Labour Watch Association, led to the release of 'potentially biased information'.

The poll reporting suggested that an overwhelming majority of Canadians supported a bill requiring unions to make substantial transactions and payments public, but the CLC, joined by two Saskatchewan academics, complained that results from one question which appeared to contradict the others were withheld. Veteran Canadian pollster Allan Gregg also joined the complainants in criticising the 'priming' of respondents before one question, using a 'lengthy and biased preamble'.

One of the academics, University of Regina Professor Sean Tucker, said the MRIA had provided 'no rationale to support their conclusion', made no reference to relevant sections of its Code of Conduct and did not 'reflect in any meaningful way' on Nanos' polling methodology.

The CLC now has 30 days to appeal.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.