Candidates fighting for Toronto's top job may benefit from focusing their campaigns on improving the local economy, according to a new poll.

The survey, commissioned by the Toronto Board of Trade and released Friday, found the majority of Torontonians feel the next mayor's focus should be on job creation and growing the economy – as opposed to cutting taxes.

The more than 500 respondents were asked whether the next mayor should focus on delivering city services, keeping taxes down, or growing Toronto's economy and creating jobs.

  • In total 45 per cent of respondents said growing the economy and creating jobs should be the priority
  • Thirty-eight per cent felt the delivery of city services should be the priority
  • And just 17 per cent felt the focus should be on keeping taxes down.

Those results carry direct ramifications for candidates fighting it out in the city's mayoral race, the poll suggests.

"Given a choice between a simple 'hold-the-line on taxes' approach, and another that emphasizes growing the economy, voters chose the second more than twice as often," the poll says.

The poll also shows that most respondents believe city hall has a powerful impact on Toronto's economy.

The poll found the following when respondents were asked to gauge city hall's effect on the economy:

  • Two per cent believe city hall has no effect whatsoever
  • Twelve per cent believe it has the largest effect
  • Gauging city hall's effect on the local economy on a scale of 0-10, the average respondent chose 7, and more than 80 per cent gave an answer of 5 or higher.

"These assessments underlie how important the economy is for the coming election," states the study.

"First, they draw focus to the fact that most voters believe the municipal government matters for the economy. Moreover, they are related to the decision of citizens to participate in the municipal election."

Other key results from the poll:

  • Sixty-four per cent of respondents said the need for new, fresh councillors more often outstrips the need for experienced multi-term councillors, compared to 36 per cent who disagreed
  • Sixty-four per cent of voters also felt council should have the final call on municipal decision making, compared to 36 per cent who felt the mayor should have the final say
  • Ninety per cent of respondents were definitely, very likely or likely to vote in the coming municipal election.

Torontonians will go to the polls on Oct. 25 to elect a new mayor and 44 councillors.