Some concerns have been expressed about the City of Steinbach survey currently underway regarding a proposed performing arts centre. There are no limits on how many times a person can go on line and do the survey and people who don't live in the city have been able to access it as well. Michael Zwaagstra of the Mayor's Task Force on Public Engagement says they are well aware of this and explains how they will deal with those issues.

Michael Zwaagstra"I will say very clearly that it's important that people include their name and address because that way we can verify that they are actually a Steinbach resident. We wanted to, at the same time, provide an opportunity for people who wanted to provide feedback but didn't want to put a name on, that they would be able to do that. But it should be made very clear that the surveys that have a name and address are given far more weight, considerably more weight, than an anonymous survey."

Zwaagstra adds, in addition, a research company is doing a telephone survey of 500 residents which will provide a scientific balance to the numbers.

"And so when we're looking for the percentages, in terms of what percentage of people in Steinbach feel a certain way on that, it's the telephone poll that we will be relying upon."

Residents have until next Tuesday to fill out the survey. Zwaagstra says he's been advised there has been a lot of interest. The task force plans to report back to city council in March.