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Canadians Have Zero Tolerance for Political Corruption
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Most adults in Canada would immediately stop supporting politicians who committed dishonest acts, according to a poll by Leger Marketing. At least 90 per cent of respondents would not vote for candidates who had accepted illegal campaign donations, or cheated on their taxes.
At least 75 per cent of respondents would not back a candidate who was arrested for shoplifting, was guilty of drinking and driving, or admitted to having used hard drugs, like cocaine or heroin. Tolerance is higher for politicians who helped friends or relatives get hired into government job, admitted to having a drinking problem, or had smoked marijuana.
Earlier this month, former Quebec provincial cabinet minister André Boisclair admitted to having used cocaine in the 1990s. Boisclair has been the favourite in the race to replace Bernard Landry as leader of the separatist Parti Québécois. The election will take place in November.
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."
Polling Data
Would you still vote for your favourite candidate for political or government office if you suddenly learned the following:
(Only "No" answers listed)
Had accepted illegal campaign donations | 96% |
Had cheated on their taxes | 90% |
Was arrested for shoplifting | 80% |
Was guilty of drinking and driving | 75% |
Admitted to having used hard drugs, like cocaine or heroin | 75% |
Helped friends or relatives get hired into government job | 57% |
Admitted to having a drinking problem | 39% |
Admitted to having smoked marijuana | 26% |
Source: Leger Marketing
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,547 Canadian adults, conducted from Oct. 13 to Oct. 16, 2005. Margin of error is 2.4 per cent.