(Angus Reid Global Scan) – The governing Liberal party extended its advantage in Canada’s federal political scene, according to a poll by The Strategic Counsel released by CTV and the Globe and Mail. 34 per cent of respondents would vote for the Liberals in the next election.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – The governing Liberal party extended its advantage in Canada’s federal political scene, according to a poll by The Strategic Counsel released by CTV and the Globe and Mail. 34 per cent of respondents would vote for the Liberals in the next election.
The Conservative party is second with 26 per cent, followed by the New Democratic Party (NDP) with 19 per cent, the Bloc Québécois with 13 per cent and the Green party with nine per cent. Support for the Grits increased by one per cent since mid-May, while backing for the Tories dropped by four 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. Last year, Martin called a public inquiry into the federal sponsorship program—initiated during the tenure of prime minister Jean Chrétien to promote Canada in Quebec—after auditor-general Sheila Fraser concluded that approximately $75 million U.S. of the program’s budget was paid to Liberal-friendly advertising firms for little or no work.
Justice John Gomery was put in charge of the investigation, which is expected to conclude in December 2005. Martin has vowed to hold a federal election “within 30 days of the publication of the commission’s final report and recommendations.”
Last week, a two-page brochure was delivered to Ontario households with a message from Martin. The prime minister wrote that Conservative leader Stephen Harper is “putting national unity at risk, once again proving that, in his mind, political opportunism trumps the best interests of Ontarians.” Tory deputy leader Peter MacKay criticized the pamphlet, saying, “This is another way of distracting constituents away from their desperate vote-buying tactics and the sponsorship scandal.”
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in the next federal election?
Jun. 9 | May 15 | May 8 | |
Liberal | 34% | 33% | 27% |
Conservative | 26% | 30% | 31% |
New Democratic Party | 19% | 19% | 20% |
Bloc Québécois | 13% | 12% | 14% |
Green | 9% | 6% | 7% |
Source: The Strategic Counsel / CTV / The Globe and Mail
Methodology: Interviews to 1,000 Canadian adults, conducted from Jun. 6 to Jun. 9, 2005. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
