{{short description|Market research firm}} {{redirect|Mainstreet Technologies|the submarine cable operator|Main One}} {{use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} '''Mainstreet Research''' is a Canadian market research and polling firm with headquarters in Toronto, and offices in Montreal and Ottawa. The company was founded in 2010 by Quito Maggi, who currently serves as its president.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Corporation|first=Torstar|title=Mainstreet Research forms partnership with iPolitics|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/mainstreet-research-forms-partnership-with-ipolitics-844591824.html|access-date=2021-11-06|website=www.newswire.ca|language=en}}</ref> Maggi has also ran campaigns within the Liberal Parties in Canada. <ref>{{Cite web |last=White-Crummey |first=Arthur |date=January 23, 2026 |title=Homebuilder Alex Lawson plans to run for Ottawa mayor |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/alex-lawson-ottawa-mayor-race-2026-9.7057326}}</ref>
Mainstreet Research conducts regular Canadian national, regional, and municipal public polling and private market and public opinion research. Their data is reported by various media organizations.<ref name="EdCity.Feb2020">{{cite news|date=2020-02-25|title=UCP holds support in Alberta, says poll|website=CityNews Edmonton|url=https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2020/02/25/ucp-holds-support-in-alberta-says-poll|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref><ref name="Sask.CTV">{{cite news|date=January 16, 2017|title=Charlie Clark has second highest approval rating among Canadian mayors: poll|language=en|work=Saskatoon CTVnews.ca|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon/article/charlie-clark-has-second-highest-approval-rating-among-canadian-mayors-poll/|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>
== Polling == Mainstreet Research published its first poll on December 9, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Dec 9|first1=Elizabeth Thompson Published on|last2=2013 10:56pm|date=2013-12-10|title=Several of NDP's Montreal MPs could lose seats in next election: new poll|url=https://ipolitics.ca/2013/12/09/several-of-ndps-montreal-mps-could-lose-seats-in-next-election-new-poll/|access-date=2021-11-07|website=iPolitics|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet WrapUp 2018 Final {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Politics Of Canada|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/395382387/Mainstreet-WrapUp-2018-Final-1|access-date=2021-11-07|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref> Since then, Mainstreet Research (formerly Mainstreet Technologies) has published hundreds of polls across dozens of elections and in between elections on matters of public policy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cross|first=Jessica Smith|date=2021-02-19|title=Nearly half of voters say Ford has done a 'good job' at managing the pandemic: Poll|url=https://www.qpbriefing.com/2021/02/19/nearly-half-of-voters-say-ford-has-done-a-good-job-at-managing-the-pandemic-poll/|access-date=2021-11-07|website=QP Briefing|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Cham|first1=Aidan|last2=Oct 28|first2=y Published on|last3=2021 6:15am|date=2021-10-28|title=Poll finds most Canadians on board with travel restrictions|url=https://ipolitics.ca/2021/10/28/poll-finds-most-canadians-on-board-with-travel-restrictions/|access-date=2021-11-07|website=iPolitics|language=en-US}}</ref> A summary of the elections covered by Mainstreet can be found below.
{{col-list| * 2015 Alberta General Election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#ab2015|access-date=2021-11-07|website=338canada.com}}</ref> * 2015 Canada General Election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#canada2015|access-date=2021-11-07|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *Opinion polling for the 2015 Canadian federal election by constituency *2015 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-05-18|title=Hydro One|url=http://www.mainstreettechnologies.ca/ontarians-pan-hydro-one-sale/|access-date=2021-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518083211/http://www.mainstreettechnologies.ca/ontarians-pan-hydro-one-sale/|archive-date=2015-05-18}}</ref> *2016 Manitoba general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet - Manitoba's Choice {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Politics Of Canada|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/309050563/Mainstreet-Manitoba-s-Choice|access-date=2021-11-07|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#mb2016|access-date=2021-11-07|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2016 Saskatchewan general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet - Saskatchewan's Choice {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Saskatchewan|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/306678296/Mainstreet-Saskatchewan-s-Choice|access-date=2021-11-07|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#sk2016|access-date=2021-11-07|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2017 Nova Scotia general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet - NS May 28 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Margin Of Error|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/349734989/Mainstreet-NS-May-28|access-date=2021-11-07|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#ns2017|access-date=2021-11-07|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2017 British Columbia general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet - Final B.C. Election 2017 Poll {{!}} PDF {{!}} British Columbia {{!}} Opinion Poll|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/347695921/Mainstreet-Final-B-C-Election-2017-Poll|access-date=2021-11-07|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#bc2017|access-date=2021-11-07|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2018 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election<ref>{{Cite news|last=Grenier|first=Eric|date=March 9, 2018|title=Ontario PC leadership a toss-up between Christine Elliott, Doug Ford, poll suggests|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ontario-pc-leadership-poll-1.4569420}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Crawley|first=Mike|date=March 11, 2018|title=Worth noting how close this poll by Mainstreet Research, Quito Maggi was to the actual result|url=https://twitter.com/CBCQueensPark/status/972851433237184512|website=Twitter}}</ref> *2018 New Brunswick general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scribd|url=https://www.scribd.com/embeds/389219771/content#from_embed|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#nb2018|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2018 Ontario general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet Ontario June5 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Survey Methodology|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/381043555/Mainstreet-Ontario-June5|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref name="338canada.com">{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#on2018|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2018 Quebec general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet QC Sept28 FR {{!}} PDF {{!}} Sondage d'opinion {{!}} Québec|url=https://fr.scribd.com/document/389731919/Mainstreet-Qc-Sept28-FR|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref name="338canada.com"/> *2018 Peel Region municipal elections<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet Brampton 20october2018 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Survey Methodology|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/391238087/Mainstreet-Brampton-20october2018|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref> *2018 Toronto mayoral election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet Toronto 26sept2018 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Survey Methodology|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/389471142/Mainstreet-Toronto-26sept2018|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref> *2019 Manitoba general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet MB 06september2019 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Survey Methodology|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/424759944/Mainstreet-Mb-06september2019|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#mb2019|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet NL 15may2019 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Sampling (Statistics)|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/410160310/Mainstreet-Nl-15may2019|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#nl2019|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2019 Prince Edward Island general election<ref>{{Cite web|last=Valentin|first=David|date=April 18, 2019|title=PEI Greens Hold Lead, Governing Liberals In Third|url=https://www.mainstreetresearch.ca/poll/pei-greens-hold-lead-governing-liberals-in-third/|access-date=2021-11-08|website=www.mainstreetresearch.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#pei2019|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2019 Alberta general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet Ab 15april2019 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Politics Of Canada|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/406392999/Mainstreet-Ab-15april2019|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#ab2019|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2019 Canadian federal election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet Canada 20october2019 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Sampling (Statistics)|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/431221528/Mainstreet-Canada-20october2019|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#ca2019|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *Opinion polling for the 2019 Canadian federal election by constituency *2020 New Brunswick general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=NewBrunswick 12september2020 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Opinion Poll {{!}} Evaluation Methods|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/475878135/NewBrunswick-12september2020|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#nb2020|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2020 Saskatchewan general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet SK 25october2020 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Survey Methodology {{!}} Opinion Poll|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/481534722/Mainstreet-Sk-25october2020|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#sk2020|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2020 British Columbia general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet BC 23october2020 {{!}} PDF {{!}} Survey Methodology {{!}} Opinion Poll|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/481353299/Mainstreet-Bc-23october2020|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#bc2020|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2021 Nova Scotia general election<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fric|first=Curtis|date=August 16, 2021|title=Nova Scotia Final|url=https://www.mainstreetresearch.ca/poll/2021_final_nova_scotia/|access-date=2021-11-08|website=www.mainstreetresearch.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#ns2021|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref> *2021 Canadian federal election<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm#ca2021|access-date=2021-11-08|website=338canada.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Fric|first=Curtis|date=September 19, 2021|title=Final 2021 Federal Election Survey|url=https://www.mainstreetresearch.ca/poll/final-2021-federal-election-survey/|access-date=November 8, 2021|archive-date=August 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817022359/https://www.mainstreetresearch.ca/poll/final-2021-federal-election-survey/|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Opinion polling for the 2021 Canadian federal election by constituency *2021 Montreal municipal election<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fournier|first=Philippe J.|date=2021-11-04|title=Valérie Plante en tête|url=https://lactualite.com/politique/valerie-plante-en-tete/|access-date=2021-11-08|website=L’actualité|language=fr-CA}}</ref> *2022 Ontario general election *2022 Quebec general election<ref>{{Cite web|title=2022 Quebec Daily Tracker|url=https://www.mainstreetresearch.ca/quebec-2022/}}</ref>
}}
== Polling accuracy == The polling firm drew criticism for incorrectly calling the 2017 Calgary municipal election in polls conducted for Postmedia. The polls suggested that incumbent Naheed Nenshi was trailing to Bill Smith, a political newcomer, while other pollsters had Nenshi in the lead.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Fletcher|first=Robson|date=2017-10-18|title=Mainstreet admits 'big polling failures' after predicting Nenshi would lose Calgary election|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/mainstreet-calgary-poll-nenshi-bill-smith-failures-1.4360145|website=CBC News}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2019-02-13|title=What Alberta and B.C. can learn from Mainstreet Research's poll-gone-wrong in Nanaimo|url=https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2019/02/13/what-alberta-can-learn-from-mainstreet-researchs-poll-gone-wrong-in-nanaimo.html|access-date=2021-04-06|website=thestar.com|language=en}}</ref> A report commissioned after the election by the Market Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) found that there were flaws in the company's polling methods, one of which resulted in the exclusion of cellphones in polling calls. This led to sampling bias, as younger people tended to have cellphones, but not landlines. It was found that the pollster's attempts to conduct ward-by-ward polling was based on phone numbers linked to postal codes, while cellphones with no such linkage were often dropped.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite report|url=http://policyoptions.irpp.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/08/MRIA-Calgary-Panel-Final-Report.pdf|title=A Review of the Public Opinion Polling Conducted during the 2017 Calgary Election|date=May 31, 2018}}</ref> Mainstreet Research president Quito Maggi later admitted to "big, big polling failures", and stated that while the company has implemented recommendations from the report, it would have to work to earn back public trust.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mainstreet Research president calls polling failure 'my mistake,' releases results of internal review|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3909536/mainstreet-research-president-calls-polling-failure-my-mistake-releases-results-of-internal-review/|access-date=2021-04-06|website=770 CHQR|language=en-US}}</ref>
A similar problem was also reported in the company's polls for the 2019 Nanaimo provincial by-election, which mispredicted a win for the BC Liberals over the incumbent BC NDP. Christopher Adams, one of the authors of the report, recommended that such small sample polling be halted until a solution to the sampling problem was found, adding that Mainstreet had done well with larger samples such as with provincial or federal elections.<ref name=":1"/> In a comparison of polling results with election results, Mainstreet is ranked an A− in Canada by polling analyst Philippe J. Fournier.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ratings of Canadian pollsters {{!}} 338Canada|url=https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm|access-date=2021-11-06|website=338canada.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Fournier|first=Philippe|date=August 6, 2021|title=Federal election 2021: Know your pollsters|url=https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/federal-election-2021-know-your-pollsters/}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Market research companies of Canada Category:Public opinion research companies Category:Companies based in Toronto