(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many Canadians were not amused by a series of flyers recently sent by Conservative party legislators, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies released by the Toronto Star. 49 per cent of respondents believe the mail-outs are inadmissible because they are campaign material, while 27 per cent believe the flyers are acceptable and meant to inform constituents about the government’s policies.

Canadians renewed the House of Commons in January 2006. 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 leads a minority administration after more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party. In December 2006, former environment minister Stéphane Dion became the new leader of the Liberals.

Last month, a series of flyers touting the government’s plans to deal with crime in Canada were sent across the country by sitting members of the House of Commons. The flyers included a ballot that asks Canadians which of four party leaders—Harper, Dion, New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton, and Green party leader Elizabeth May—is "on the right track on crime."

Liberal lawmaker Mark Holland said the flyers contravene existing rules, saying, "The Conservative party is using taxpayers’ money to fund the printing and mailing of electoral material." Conservative legislator Rick Dykstra defended the mail-outs, adding, "We are going to get tough on crime by punishing drug pushers and certainly cracking down on the flow of drugs at the border, and we want to assist those who are addicted to get off the streets."

The next federal election in Canada is scheduled for October 2009, but there is growing speculation that a snap ballot would take place on Oct. 14.

Polling Data

Respondents were shown a flyer sent by MP Rob Merrifield.

Some people say that the flyer you have just seen is admissible, because it is meant to make constituents aware of what the government is trying to do. Other people say that the flyer you have just seen is inadmissible, because it is in fact campaign material. Which of these statements comes closest to your own view?

Source: Angus Reid Strategies / Toronto Star
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,012 Canadian adults, conducted on Aug. 27 and Aug. 28, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

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