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After March’s hydro announcement, that swung dramatically the other way, with 45 per cent of people citing “government reducing cost.”

And since then, the government’s performance rating on electricity prices increased steadily, with 44 per cent of respondents in July calling it excellent or good, up from 34 per cent in March.

More than three-quarters of respondents — 79 per cent — said they supported the Fair Hydro Plan, though a much smaller number — 55 per cent — said they actually believed their bill would decrease by the promised 25 per cent.

When it comes to the government’s cap-and-trade system, the polling suggested Ontarians are very supportive in principle, but less so on the specifics.

In November, when the program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions hadn’t yet been implemented, 85 per cent of respondents supported limiting the amount of pollution businesses can emit, though only 52 per cent supported Ontario’s system.

And while 60 per cent agreed it was right to encourage businesses to reduce air pollution even if it led to higher costs for consumers, only 46 and 42 per cent, respectively, were OK with cap-and-trade adding four cents per litre on gasoline and $13 per month to energy fuel costs.

Given this, the pollsters suggest a line of messaging for the government.

“How the policy, cap and trade, is communicated makes a significant difference in support and in willingness to accept personal costs,” they write. “Discussing the result of cap and trade, ‘putting a cap on the amount of emissions that businesses can release into the atmosphere,’ is much more supported than using the term cap and trade.”

Support for cap and trade dropped after the plan was implemented in January, but still had the support of 50 per cent of respondents.

Wynne’s most recent major policy, a $15 minimum wage, among other labour reforms, has been very well received, the polling suggests.

In July, 71 per cent of respondents said they supported the policy.

“Increasing the minimum wage, along with protection for temporary and part-time workers, serves to increase confidence in government even more than increases to healthcare spending,” the pollsters wrote.