Women east and west of the border between Ontario and Quebec show some marked differences in investment attitudes, according to a new poll released today.

According to TD Waterhouse’s 2005 Female Investor Poll, women with responsibility for household investment decisions and financial planning in Ontario, the Prairies and British Columbia have a significantly higher level of interest in managing household finances and investments than those in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

The highest percentages of poll respondents indicating they were “very / somewhat interested” in the subject were found in B.C. (94%), followed by Ontario (93%) and the Prairies (91%). For Atlantic Canada and Quebec, the findings were 82% and 81% respectively.

When asked to compare their level of interest in financial planning today versus five years ago, female investor respondents west of Quebec were also much more likely to state that their interest level has increased than were those east of it. The findings were 58% for B.C. and the Prairies and 56% for Ontario. For Atlantic Canada and Quebec, the findings were 50% and 43% respectively.

Despite being less interested in managing investments than women elsewhere, respondents in Quebec are most likely to consider themselves to be “financially successful”, according to the poll. In Quebec, 85% felt successful compared with 66% in Ontario, 65% in the Prairies, 62% in B.C. and 59% in Atlantic Canada.

When it comes to assessing their personal investment skills, far more female investors in Quebec gave themselves an “intermediate” ranking (63%) than women elsewhere. Nationally, half of female investors placed themselves at the intermediate level. Only 36% of female investors in Quebec rate themselves as “beginners”, versus 53% in B.C. and a national average of 45%. Few women in any region rate themselves as “advanced” investors.

Among the women surveyed, those residing in Ontario, at 49%, are the most likely in Canada to have a financial plan. B.C. residents follow closely at 48%. The least likely to have a plan were those living in Atlantic Canada (39%).

“Given the size and diversity of Canada, it stands to reason that attitudes and behaviours will vary considerably among women investors in different regions,” said Patricia Lovett-Reid, senior vice president, TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., in a release. “But success knows no geographic boundaries. The profile of the ideal female investor would borrow a bit from each region: the confidence of Quebecers, the high level of interest of BC women and the propensity for financial planning among Ontarians.”