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Canadians Send Mixed Messages on Emerson
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Adults in Canada believe the recent controversy over the appointment of David Emerson to cabinet is not serious, but they still want him to step down, according to a poll by Ipsos-Reid released by CanWest Global.
Canadians renewed the House of Commons on Jan. 23. The Conservative party—led by Stephen Harper—received 36.3 per cent of the vote, and secured 124 seats in the 308-member lower house. Harper, who was sworn in on Feb. 6, will lead a minority administration after more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party.
Emerson, who was elected as the Liberal candidate in the Vancouver Kingsway riding, left the party and joined the Conservative government as international trade minister. For 18 months, Emerson served as industry minister during the administration of Liberal prime minister Paul Martin.
In the survey, 56 per cent of respondents believe the situation does not reflect on the character of Harper's government or how he will run the country. However, 62 per cent of respondents think Emerson should immediately resign his seat in the House of Commons and run in a by-election.
Several protest rallies have taken place in Emerson's riding, and a few online petitions—which call for Emerson's resignation and a by-election in Vancouver Kingsway—have been signed by thousands of Canadians.
On Feb. 13, Emerson said he does not plan to resign, and added, "I did not realize that it would be the kind of firestorm of protest and so on that has developed."
On Feb. 21, Harper defended his decision, saying, "I certainly was aware of the criticism that would be forthcoming when I made the appointment, my objective is to make the cabinet stronger, and that our government is extending its reach and its base across the country."
Polling Data
Thinking again about federal politics, please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement: The controversy about Stephen Harper's cabinet appointments is just a lot of noise about nothing. It really doesn't reflect on the character of his government or how he will run the country.
Agree | 56% |
Disagree | 36% |
Don't know / Refused | 8% |
Thinking again about federal politics, please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement: David Emerson, the Vancouver Liberal who crossed the floor and was appointed to the new Conservative cabinet, should immediately resign his seat in the House of Commons and run in a by-election?
Agree | 62% |
Disagree | 30% |
Don't know / Refused | 8% |
Source: Ipsos-Reid / CanWest Global
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Canadian adults, conducted from Feb. 7 to Feb. 9, 2006. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
