Demography is destiny

Gender -- and age -- matter.
The forthcoming NYT magazine is devoted to women's rights, f  and in this article, called The Power of the Purse, we learn that female philanthropy  is changing as more women get more money in their hands to do good works.

"...unlike the women who preceded them — old-school patrons who gave to the museum and the symphony and their dead husbands’ alma maters — these givers are more likely to use their wealth deliberately and systematically to aid women in need."

Belinda Stronach, who has just such a foundation, would probably agree.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Association of Retired Persons says that the Canadian political landscape is not in the stalemate we've been reporting all summer, at least if you look at attitudes among the over-55 set. Here are the results of the new online poll that CARP is circulating today.

Based on CARP’s internal projections, on a national basis, CARP members support the Conservatives [36%] over the Liberals [30%], BUT in the key battleground province of Ontario, CARP members support the Liberals [42%] over the Conservatives [38%]. [Survey and analysis attached]

CARP’s poll sample is a bellwether group. Virtually all the respondents were age 55plus. Seventy percent [70%] of this demographic votes regularly. In Ontario, there are over a dozen ridings in which those aged 65-plus represent about 26% of the population, about twice the national average [13%]. And contrary to recently publicized polls which showed the two main parties neck and neck in Ontario, the preferences among older voters are quite different.

“So, the message is: Older voters can make the difference between a majority and minority in the upcoming election so it would be wise to pay attention to the issues that resonate with them. In fact, it could determine the election,” said Susan Eng, Vice President, Advocacy of CARP.

Comments

[Jon Drake]

Ipsos-Reid reports the Conservatives have opened an 11 point lead over the Liberals nationally as of August 20th. Susan, you will have to reinvent what you say about Iggy because what youre doing now clearly isnt working.

[S. McKay]

I guess some older voters do not value truth, carrying through with promises, and are not bothered by the way this government treats immigrants when they leave the country for a visit elsewhere. Surely there are some of us who find the CPC's behaviour repugnant.