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This study is a clarion call for more public engagement. Daniel Tisch

Calgary’s city council, on the other hand, had a split reputation. About 39 per cent of respondents said they hold a good opinion of the local government, the same percentage as those who indicated they hold a bad opinion.

But asked whether they agreed or disagreed with a series of statements concerning their local government, Calgarians seemed to express a fractured relationship with their elected officials.

Just 37 per cent agreed with the statement, “I trust my city or town council,” while about two-in-five stated they were satisfied with the local government and felt it was committed to meeting their expectations.

In response to the statement, “my local government takes care of the people who live there,” 44 per cent of respondents concurred.

Only 34 per cent of people felt the government was concerned about people like them and that they had the ability to influence the decisions or direction of local politicians.

Photo by Gavin Young / Postmedia

But the majority of respondents in Calgary expressed a desire to play a democratic role in the political process.

About three-quarters said having a relationship with their city makes them more likely to vote in a local election, and a relationship with the local government makes them more likely to know and comply with the city’s regulations and bylaws.

To the statement, “having a relationship with my local government makes me more likely to feel a sense of belonging here,” 67 per cent agreed. The same percentage of Calgarians said that such a relationship makes them more likely to support the local government’s decisions.

“Canadians have a strong attachment to places where we live, and we give our local governments passing grades,” Argyle CEO Daniel Tisch said in a statement.

“There’s a sense that local governments care for us, but perhaps could care more about us — and give their residents a much stronger voice in the decisions that affect them. This study is a clarion call for more public engagement — particularly from new Canadians.”

The online survey polled 1,564 Canadians from July 19 to 22. The margin of error for the study was +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

shudes@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @SammyHudes