A poll commissioned by Friends of the Earth Canada and published today suggests that Ontario residents are much more concerned about bee health than we might have expected. Conducted for FOE by Oraclepoll Research in October 2013, and with a margin of error of +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20, the poll results include:

• 82% said that they would support a move by the Federal Health Minister to suspend the use of neonic pesticides until there is a better understanding of how to manage their negative impact. Only 8% would oppose this and 10% did not know or were unsure.
• 78% of Ontario voters would support a move by Premier Kathleen Wynne to take action on this issue by suspending the use of neonic pesticides until there is a better understanding of their negative impact on pollinators.
• 74% of those surveyed are concerned about the future health of honey bee populations, compared to only 5% unconcerned, while 18% had a neutral view (neither concerned nor unconcerned) and 3% did not know or were unsure.
• 81.3% of Ontario Progressive Conservative supporters, 78.3% of Ontario Liberal supporters, and 88.4% of Ontario NDP supporters agreed that the use of these pesticides [should] be suspended in order to protect honey bees.

Much more data, including more cross-tabulations with voting intentions, are available at http://foecanada.org/en/files/2013/11/FOE_Canada_Honey_Bee_Report.pdf The FOE Canada press release is at http://foecanada.org/en/stop-honey-bee-carnage-say-eight-out-of-ten-ontarians/