INCREASED CONFIDENCE IN DRINKING WATER QUALITY

Saskatchewan residents are confident in the safety of their drinking water according to polling results released today.

The province's Safe Drinking Water Strategy has helped increase public confidence in the safety of our drinking water supplies. Over 78 per cent of respondents to a May omnibus poll agreed that Saskatchewan residents have safe drinking water. When asked about their own drinking water, over 87 per cent feel confident it is safe. This is a substantial increase over polling results in December 2001 when only 59 per cent agreed Saskatchewan residents have safe drinking water and 71 per cent felt confident in the safety of their own drinking water. In both polls, over 60 per cent of residents indicated a willingness to pay more to improve or ensure the safety of their drinking water.

Saskatchewan residents also showed confidence in our education system and in the economy. In April and May polls, over 85 per cent of respondents feel that our education system is the same or better than the rest of Canada.

In April, over two-thirds of respondents felt that the provincial economy is staying the same or getting better, up from 61 per cent in January 2003. The June poll also found that 89 per cent of Saskatchewan people believe that Saskatchewan is a great place to work, live and do business, compared to 83 per cent in September 2002 prior to the launch of the Our Future is Wide Open campaign.

Agriculture overcame health care as the most important issue facing Saskatchewan and Canada in May and June. Over 36 per cent of respondents in the May poll identified agriculture as the most important issue facing Saskatchewan and those results remained consistent in June. Not surprisingly, that level is up from 18.2 percent in April prior to the BSE issue.

Polling results for the 1st quarter of the fiscal year were released today. The results are from April, May and June omnibus polling conducted by Sigma Analytics of Regina. Results of a national poll on Our Future is Wide Open campaign conducted by Saskatchewan-based Insightrix Research Firm for Industry and Resources in June were also released. The total cost for 1st quarter polling was $108,696.25.

Copies of the polling report can be picked up at Media Services, Room 34, Legislative Building or can be found at www.executive.gov.sk.ca/polling.htm

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For More Information, Contact:

Carolyn Rebeyka Media Services Regina Phone: (306)787-0963 Cell: (306)539-7641