(Angus Reid Global Scan) – The governing Liberal party heads to Canada’s expected House of Commons ballot in first place, according to a poll by Ekos Research Associates published in the Toronto Star. 38.7 per cent of respondents would vote for the Liberals in the next federal election.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – The governing Liberal party heads to Canada’s expected House of Commons ballot in first place, according to a poll by Ekos Research Associates published in the Toronto Star. 38.7 per cent of respondents would vote for the Liberals in the next federal election.
The opposition Conservative party is second with 29.4 per cent, followed by the New Democratic Party (NDP) with 16.9 per cent, the Bloc Québécois with 10.6 per cent and the Green party with 3.9 per cent.
Liberal leader Paul Martin took over as Canada’s prime minister in December 2003. In the June 2004 election, the Liberals secured a minority government with 135 seats in the House of Commons. For the past year, the government has faced criticism over the mishandling of funds in the federal sponsorship program, initiated during the tenure of prime minister Jean Chrétien to promote Canada in Quebec. Martin has vowed to hold a federal election “within 30 days of the publication of the (inquiry) commission’s final report and recommendations.”
Today, the three main federal opposition parties—who hold 172 seats in the 308-member lower house—are expected to vote in favour of a no-confidence motion which will bring an end to the Martin government. The next election is expected to take place on Jan. 23, 2006.
On Nov. 26, Martin chided two opposition politicians, saying, “I believe that (NDP leader) Jack Layton is going to be called to account for forcing an election before the single most important conference on climate change. (…) I believe that (Conservative leader) Stephen Harper is going to be criticized for the fact he refused to support the government of Canada when we stood up for softwood against George Bush.”
Martin is first in the list of preferred prime ministers with 21 per cent, followed by Harper with 12 per cent, Layton with eight per cent, and Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Québécois with two per cent. 43 per cent of respondents are undecided.
Polling Data
If a federal election were held tomorrow, which party would you vote for?
Nov. 24 | Nov. 9 | |
Liberal | 38.7% | 33% |
Conservative | 29.4% | 28% |
New Democratic Party | 16.9% | 21% |
Bloc Québécois | 10.6% | 13% |
Green | 3.9% | 5% |
Who do you think would make the best primer minister for Canada?
Paul Martin (Lib.) | 21% |
Stephen Harper (Con.) | 12% |
Jack Layton (NDP) | 8% |
Gilles Duceppe (BQ) | 2% |
No current leader | 5% |
Other | 10% |
Don’t know | 43% |
Source: Ekos Research Associates / Toronto Star
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 802 Canadian adults, conducted from Nov. 22 to Nov. 24, 2005. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.
