(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many voters in Canada will have several topics on their minds before the next federal election, according to a poll by Ipsos-Reid released by CTV and the Globe and Mail. Only 28 per cent of respondents believe their vote will be based almost entirely on the sponsorship scandal.

Liberal leader Paul Martin took over as Canada's prime minister in December 2003. In the June 2004 election, his party 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 the tenure of prime minister Jean Chrétien 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. Last week, 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.

Yesterday, 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." 87 per cent of respondents believe the commission should complete its inquiry before an election is called.

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? - My vote in the next federal election will be based almost entirely on what I learn about the federal sponsorship scandal.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? - The Gomery Commission must be allowed to complete its investigation over the next few months before we have a federal election.

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