(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Adults in Canada are split over the possibility of a fresh ballot to the House of Commons, according to a poll by Environics Research Group released by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 41 per cent of respondents believe no issue justifies a new election, while 34 per cent believe the sponsorship scandal should force a snap ballot.

The Liberal party has formed the Canadian government for the past 12 years. Jean Chrétien led the Liberals to majority mandates in the 1993, 1997 and 2000 federal elections. 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.

The government and the Liberal party have been affected by the public inquiry into the federal sponsorship program initiated during Chrétien's tenure to promote Canada in Quebec. In February 2004, 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.

Martin called a public inquiry into the sponsorship program last year. Justice John Gomery was put in charge of the investigation, which is expected to conclude in December 2005. Earlier this month, the testimony of Groupaction Marketing president Jean Brault was released to the public. Brault—who faces fraud and conspiracy charges—claims to have paid close to $1 million U.S. to Liberal fundraisers in Quebec, in order to secure advertising contracts with the federal government.

On Apr. 12, Conservative leader Stephen Harper declared a new ballot could take place before the investigation is over, saying, "Justice Gomery has to make decisions about potential prosecutions, about criminality. Frankly, the standards of the electorate are a lot higher than that."

Polling Data

Is there any one specific issue that would justify an election being called over the next few months?

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