A new poll for one of Canada's big banks says 45 per cent of those surveyed said they had no fund set up to deal with emergency expenses.

The poll of about 2,000 Canadians was conducted in March and April for CIBC by Harris/Decima.

Ontario and Alberta residents were the least likely to say they had an emergency fund set up — 53 per cent of respondents in each province.

At 60 per cent, British Columbia residents were the most likely to say they have funds set aside for critical, unexpected expenses.

Quebec and the Prairie provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan were also above the national average, tied at 57 per cent.

Atlantic Canada was right on the national average, with 55 per cent of respondents in that region saying they had set up an emergency fund.