(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Canada’s main federal parties elicit negative views from a large proportion of the population, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies released by the Toronto Star. 55 per cent of respondents describe the Conservative party as arrogant, and 43 per cent feel the same way about the Liberal party.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Canada’s main federal parties elicit negative views from a large proportion of the population, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies released by the Toronto Star. 55 per cent of respondents describe the Conservative party as arrogant, and 43 per cent feel the same way about the Liberal party.
The New Democratic Party (NDP) is regarded as out of touch by 41 per cent of respondents, and the Green party is seen as weak by 50 per cent of respondents.
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.
On Aug. 11, Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe suggested that his party—which only fields candidates in Quebec—may consider toppling the Conservatives, declaring, "If Stephen Harper refuses to change his policies to help people who are losing their jobs, and if [Liberal leader] Michael Ignatieff stops bending before Stephen Harper and assumes his responsibilities, a federal election could be triggered as soon as the start of October."
Polling Data
Here are some words that people may use to describe the federal [PARTY NAME]. Please choose up to six words that you think describe the federal [PARTY NAME].
|
Con. |
Lib. |
NDP |
Grn. |
|
|
Down to earth |
14% |
9% |
25% |
35% |
|
Arrogant |
55% |
43% |
24% |
12% |
|
Open |
11% |
14% |
26% |
22% |
|
Secretive |
48% |
32% |
13% |
8% |
|
Efficient |
19% |
13% |
8% |
7% |
|
Inefficient |
33% |
42% |
39% |
38% |
|
Compassionate |
5% |
12% |
30% |
29% |
|
Uncaring |
37% |
25% |
12% |
9% |
|
Honest |
12% |
10% |
21% |
23% |
|
Dishonest |
36% |
38% |
17% |
9% |
|
Strong |
24% |
15% |
7% |
2% |
|
Weak |
17% |
27% |
37% |
50% |
|
Exciting |
3% |
5% |
7% |
8% |
|
In touch |
16% |
14% |
21% |
16% |
|
Out of touch |
43% |
41% |
41% |
38% |
|
Intelligent |
24% |
27% |
20% |
20% |
|
Foolish |
18% |
22% |
32% |
29% |
Source: Angus Reid Strategies / Toronto Star
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,002 Canadian adults, conducted on Aug. 11 and Aug. 12, 2009. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
