According to results of the first poll commissioned by a new left-leaning think tank, the majority of Canadians are concerned by the growing gulf between haves and have-nots, and they're willing to pay for change.

The Environics Research survey commissioned by former NDP leader Ed Broadbent's eponymous institute was released Tuesday.

Based on a telephone survey of 2,000 Canadians, the pollsters say 77 per cent of respondents consider the gap between the richest Canadians and the rest of society as a problem with serious long-term consequences.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the survey's self-identified NDP respondents were almost unanimous in that view (89 per cent). The numbers suggest that perspective crosses political lines, however, with 59 per cent of Conservative supporters sharing the same view.

Conversely, just 20 per cent of survey participants shared the opinion that the gap is only a problem insofar as "people have to work harder at being rich themselves."

Other highlights from the poll include:

  • 79 per cent said that income inequality will lead to lower living standards
  • 75 per cent anticipate higher crime
  • 72 per cent expect effects on quality of public health care
  • 71 per cent said it portends fewer chances for kids to do as well as or better than their parents

While just 42 per cent said the issue should be a top priority for all governments, nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) said they would be "very" willing to pay more taxes to address it.

Broken down along party lines, 72 per cent of Liberal voters would be willing to pay more to protect social programs, compared with 71 per cent of NDP backers and 58 per cent of Conservatives.

Even more Canadians (83 per cent) favour increasing income taxes on the country's highest-earners, while nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) think corporate taxes should be rolled back to 2008 rates.

Results of the national survey conducted between March 6 and March 18 are considered accurate within plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

The Broadbent Institute was announced in June 2011 as a left-leaning think tank independent of formal party affiliations. According to a statement on its website, the results of this first commissioned survey will form the basis for action on its non-partisan "Equality Project" aimed at tackling income inequality "once and for all."