(07/13/10) -

Tories Have Nine-Point Advantage in Canada

(Angus Reid Public Opinion) – The Conservative Party remains ahead of its rivals in Canada, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 36 per cent of respondents would vote for the Tories in the next federal election.

(Angus Reid Public Opinion) – The Conservative Party remains ahead of its rivals in Canada, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 36 per cent of respondents would vote for the Tories in the next federal election.

The opposition Liberal Party is second with 27 per cent, followed by the New Democratic Party (NDP) with 20 per cent, the Bloc Québécois with 10 per cent, and the Greens Party with seven 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. In December, Michael Ignatieff took over as Liberal leader, replacing Stéphane Dion.

On Jul. 1, Layton expressed dismay with the harmonized sales tax (HST)—which came into force in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia—saying, "For people already struggling to make ends meet, the increase they see at the pumps and in their utility bills will be an unwelcome reminder of Harper’s shameful tax grab."

The next election to the House of Commons is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 15, 2012. Sitting prime ministers can dissolve Parliament and call an early ballot at their discretion. In order to trigger an election, all three opposition parties in the House of Commons—Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois—would have to defeat the government in a no-confidence motion.

Polling Data

If a federal election were held tomorrow, which one of the following parties would you be most likely to support in your constituency?

Complete Poll (PDF)