Anyone transmitting the results of a poll has to include the name of the sponsor and the company that did the poll, which will help readers determine if the poll is objective.

Readers should also have access to the date when the poll was conducted and the size of the sample that was consulted to test reliability.

Finally, organizations have to disclose the margin of error, one of the most important pieces of information, according to Robert MacDermid, a political science professor at 91亚色.

If a poll says Jack Layton has 20 per cent of Canadians supporting him, but there is a margin of error of +/- 3 per cent, that means the support is actually between 23 and 17 per cent, he explained.

. . .

Polls aren鈥檛 the only way to gauge progress, according to MacDermid, who uses Layton鈥檚 recent rise in Quebec as an example.

鈥淭here are all sorts of evidence that people, especially in Quebec, are considering voting for Jack,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檇 report these other things; that he is spending all his time there; that 1000 people showed up at a rally; and that other political parties are attacking him.鈥�

And polls aren鈥檛 the only way to determine how you want to vote, MacDermid says. Voters should consider the party platforms and what the leaders say about the issues that matter to the individual voter.

MacDermid was also in the media concerning his research on Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's election fundraising drives and the upcoming sale of the City of Toronto's waterfront assets; the :

Mayor Rob Ford鈥檚 administration is preparing to hang a huge for-sale sign on the city鈥檚 waterfront real estate assets and is now in the process of auctioning off the first parcel 鈥� the new Corus Entertainment building, as well as the land it sits on at the foot of Jarvis Street, just south of Queen鈥檚 Quay East.

. . .

An influential Vaughan developer, who donated generously to Mayor Rob Ford's pre- and post-election fundraising drives, controls a long-term lease on the Port Lands' Hearn Generating Station, which has been proposed as a site for an NFL stadium by the mayor's brother Doug.

Developer Mario Cortellucci, together with various relatives and individuals who listed his company's premises on their donor forms, contributed $30,000 to the mayor's campaign, about half of which was raised following the election as part of a multi-candidate effort to eliminate campaign deficits. He also secured a private meeting with Rob Ford, according to scheduling documents released under access to information laws.

The figures, based on election contribution filings, were compiled by 91亚色 political scientist Robert MacDermid [Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies].

"The important point here is that when a councillor or mayor runs a deficit and wins, every person seeking influence crowds into the subsequent fundraising events," [said MacDermid].

While Cortellucci's development companies in the past have pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to right-of-centre municipal and provincial candidates, MacDermid's analysis shows the 2010 race was his first serious foray into Toronto politics. In 2006, Cortellucci and another relative gave just $2,500 to Jane Pitfield's mayoral campaign. In 2010, he donated $4,000 and $2,000 to George Smitherman and Joe Pantalone respectively.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

The post Professor Robert MacDermid shares last-minute insight on interpreting polls appeared first on UAP 2026-30.

The holdouts aren鈥檛 breaking any rules, but they are deviating from a practice that has become the norm in megacity elections, wrote the Globe. In 2006 and 2003, the top candidates for mayor disclosed their contribution lists before ballots were cast.

鈥淚 think they鈥檙e behind the curve on their understanding of voters鈥� interest in this,鈥� said Robert MacDermid, a professor in 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies who studies municipal campaign finance. 鈥淚f we could poll people on this issue, I think we would find a large majority in favour of telling people where the money comes from before the election happens. I think maybe these three candidates haven鈥檛 appreciated that.

鈥淚鈥檓 perplexed at why it would make much difference before or after,鈥� MacDermid said. 鈥淭hey [donors] know that their names are going to be made public afterward if they contributed more than $100. What difference would it make?鈥�

MacDermid, who has extensive research experience in municipal politics, has lobbied for a ban on corporate funding of municipal election campaigns:

He was also quoted in Sept. 18:

Another proposal worthy of implementation is ensuring early disclosure of campaign donations. Voters should be able to assess the weight of donations from developers, business, trade unions and other special interest groups before the election, not several months later.

鈥淚t鈥檚 better to know beforehand where the money comes from,鈥� said Robert MacDermid, a political scientist in 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. 鈥淎 person should be able to look and see if a candidate is totally supported by the development industry, then judge accordingly.鈥�

Transparent and timely access to donation records -- as well as preventing undue influence by powerful groups -- will give voters a reason to cast their ballots.

The post Video: Professor Robert MacDermid on mayoral elections, votor cynicism and transparency appeared first on UAP 2026-30.