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Canadians Assess Next Liberal Leader
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(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Adults in Canada hold similar views on five men who are seeking to lead the opposition Liberal party, according to a poll by The Strategic Counsel released by CTV and the Globe and Mail. 28 per cent of respondents think former Ontario premier Bob Rae would be a good choice for the position.
Rae headed the government of Canada's most populous province, as a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), from 1990 to 1995.
Academic Michael Ignatieff is second on the list with 27 per cent, followed by former Ontario education minister Gerard Kennedy with 25 per cent, former environment minister Stéphane Dion with 24 per cent, and former social development minister Ken Dryden.
Other contenders include parliamentarians Maurizio Bevilacqua, Joe Volpe and Scott Brison. Former human resources minister Belinda Stronach decided not to launch a bid.
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, leads a minority administration after more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party.
The new Liberal leader will be chosen at a party convention in December.
Polling Data
Which of these five leading candidates would be a good choice for leader of the Liberal party?
(All answers)
Bob Rae | 28% |
Michael Ignatieff | 27% |
Gerard Kennedy | 25% |
Stéphane Dion | 24% |
Ken Dryden | 22% |
Source: The Strategic Counsel / CTV / The Globe and Mail
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Canadian adults, conducted from Apr. 6 to Apr. 9, 2006. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.