(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Canadians hold differing views on the characteristics of their country’s five main federal party leaders, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies released by CTV. 54 per cent of respondents describe Canadian prime minister and Conservative party leader Stephen Harper as secretive, and 53 per cent believe he is arrogant.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Canadians hold differing views on the characteristics of their country’s five main federal party leaders, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies released by CTV. 54 per cent of respondents describe Canadian prime minister and Conservative party leader Stephen Harper as secretive, and 53 per cent believe he is arrogant.
Liberal party leader Michael Ignatieff is seen as intelligent by 53 per cent of respondents. In addition, 42 per cent of respondents think he is arrogant.
New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton is regarded as compassionate by 34 per cent of respondents, Bloc Québécois leader Giles Duceppe is seen as arrogant by 42 per cent, and Green party leader Elizabeth May is down to earth for 42 per cent.
Canadians renewed the House of Commons in October 2008. The Conservative party—led by Stephen Harper—received 37.6 per cent of the vote, and secured 143 seats in the 308-member lower house. Harper assembled a minority administration. The Tories also earned a minority mandate after the 2006 election, ending more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party.
Duceppe has been the leader of the Bloc Québécois since March 1997. Layton became the NDP’s leader in January 2003. In August 2006, Sierra Club of Canada head May was chosen as the new leader of the Greens. In December 2008, Ignatieff took over as the new leader of the Liberals.
Earlier this month, Duceppe criticized Harper, saying, "When he says all the Bloc’s criticisms are aimed at dividing Canada, I don’t think anyone beats him at dividing Canada. He’s the master of the art."
Polling Data
Here are some words that people may use to describe Stephen Harper / Michael Ignatieff / Jack Layton / Giles Duceppe / Elizabeth May. Please select up to six words you think describe Stephen Harper / Michael Ignatieff / Jack Layton / Gilles Duceppe / Elizabeth May?
|
Harper |
Ignatieff |
Layton |
Duceppe |
May |
|
|
Down to earth |
18% |
14% |
31% |
15% |
42% |
|
Arrogant |
53% |
42% |
32% |
42% |
8% |
|
Open |
11% |
25% |
30% |
17% |
33% |
|
Secretive |
54% |
25% |
12% |
23% |
9% |
|
Efficient |
20% |
25% |
12% |
15% |
10% |
|
Inefficient |
32% |
15% |
28% |
27% |
27% |
|
Compassionate |
10% |
12% |
34% |
12% |
37% |
|
Uncaring |
37% |
21% |
10% |
23% |
9% |
|
Honest |
17% |
21% |
26% |
18% |
33% |
|
Dishonest |
34% |
24% |
19% |
22% |
7% |
|
Strong |
21% |
31% |
16% |
17% |
10% |
|
Weak |
15% |
13% |
22% |
20% |
29% |
|
Exciting |
3% |
12% |
13% |
6% |
6% |
|
Boring |
34% |
21% |
25% |
28% |
31% |
|
Out of touch |
38% |
24% |
29% |
32% |
24% |
|
Intelligent |
35% |
53% |
30% |
28% |
26% |
|
Foolish |
17% |
9% |
25% |
20% |
17% |
Source: Angus Reid Strategies / Toronto Star
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,002 Canadian adults, conducted on May 28 and May 29, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
