Polls & Research

Liberal Lead Down to Six Points in Canada

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The Liberal party is still the most popular political organization in Canada, according to a poll by Pollara Inc. 36 per cent of respondents would support the governing party in the next federal election.

The opposition Conservative party is second with 30 per cent, followed by the New Democratic Party (NDP) with 19 per cent, and the Bloc Québécois with 11 per cent. Support for the Grits fell by two points since July, while backing for the Tories increased by three points.

Liberal leader Paul Martin took over as Canada's prime minister in December 2003. In the June 2004 election, the Liberals secured a minority government with 135 seats in the House of Commons. Last year, Martin called a public inquiry into the federal sponsorship program—initiated during the tenure of prime minister Jean Chrétien to promote Canada in Quebec—after auditor-general Sheila Fraser concluded that approximately $75 million U.S. of the program's budget was paid to Liberal-friendly advertising firms for little or no work.

Justice John Gomery was put in charge of the investigation, and is expected to deliver his final report in February 2006. Martin has vowed to hold a federal election "within 30 days of the publication of the commission's final report and recommendations."

Martin said recent polls "demonstrate that we continue to enjoy the confidence of Canadians. And I would expect that if we govern well, we will continue to have their confidence right across the country."

Yesterday, Conservative deputy leader Peter MacKay dismissed reports of problems with leader Stephen Harper, declaring, "This is nothing like the tensions that went on between Martin and Chrétien where (Martin) was undermining him for years and engaged in a bloodless coup in his own province."

Polling Data

If a Canadian federal election were held today, which party would you vote for?