The results are in, and they’re solidly against the idea of erecting statues of Canada’s prime ministers in Victoria Park.
The City of Kitchener held an online survey to gauge public opinion on the issue after a community group proposed building them to commemorate Canada’s 150th birthday.
Statue proponents said they had raised $1 million for the project and wanted the city to fund it to the tune of $300,000.
Results of the online survey found that only 21 per cent of the 2,441 respondents support the statue idea in whole or in part, while 79 per cent are opposed entirely.
For those opposed, the most common reason was cost – 71 per cent of votes against the statues cited not wanting to see city money used on the project as a factor in their vote.
Coun Frank Etherington, who made no secret of his opposition to the statue project, says he’s surprised so many people made their opinions known, but isn’t surprised by those opinions.
“It’s been what I’ve been hearing. Everywhere I go, people have been opposed,” he tells CTV News.
“I think that $300,000 could be better spent in all kinds of ways.”
Councillors must still make a decision on whether to move ahead with the statues.
