MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (November 1, 2007) - Writing their wish list as the holiday season approaches, many Canadians have come to a frank conclusion: they really don't need—or even particularly want—anything this Christmas.

Ipsos Reid unwrapped the surprise findings after surveying 1,429 Canadians on behalf of World Vision Canada. Asked what they needed and what they wanted this Christmas, 77 per cent of Canadians said they didn't need anything, while only 36 per cent said there was something in particular they actually wanted.

People over age 55 (86 per cent), families who earn more than $60,000 a year (84 per cent) and residents of Alberta (84 per cent) were the most likely to say they don't need anything for Christmas.

But even among Canadians whose families earn less than $30,000 a year, a full two-thirds (67 per cent) said their needs were all taken care of.

Canadians appear to be well aware of pressing needs elsewhere around the globe while acknowledging that they don't need anything this Christmas.

An overwhelming majority said that health care (98 per cent), food (97 per cent), education (96 per cent) and shelter (92 per cent) are among the greatest human needs in the world today.

Eighty-four per cent agreed that they would prefer to receive a meaningful gift that would help someone else, rather than a traditional gift like a pair of socks or a sweater.

"These results tell us that Canadians understand how good we've got it compared to billions of other people around the globe," said Lydia Chan, manager of the World Vision Gift Catalogue.

For the seventh year, World Vision is offering its Gift Catalogue from which Canadians can purchase vital goods and services for people in developing countries on their or someone else's behalf. In 2006, nearly 76,000 Canadians bought more than $15 million worth of gifts from the catalogue—a 50 per cent increase over the previous year.

"Between the success of our Gift Catalogue and the results of this poll, it seems as though people really do want to do something more important and worthwhile with their shopping dollars these days," Chan said.

The Ipsos Reid poll of 1,429 Canadian adults was conducted from June 21 to June 25 through its I-Say online panel. The results are considered accurate to within ±2.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population been polled.

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization whose purpose is to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities by overcoming poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit WorldVision.ca.

About Ipsos Reid:
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader and the country's leading provider of public opinion research. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group. To learn more, visit ipsos.ca.

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For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact:

Jessica Parker
905-565-6200 ext. 2152
416-881-0732 (cell)
jessica_parker@worldvision.ca