Credit:The White House

Paul Martin

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Canada seem uninterested in the country's two main political leaders, according to a poll by The Strategic Counsel released by CTV and the Globe and Mail. 52 per cent of respondents say they would like to see the Liberal party replace Paul Martin, while 59 per cent would remove Conservative leader Stephen Harper.

Martin took over as Canada's prime minister in December 2003. In the June 2004 election, his Liberal party secured a minority government with 135 seats in the House of Commons. Harper became the Conservative party's first leader in March 2004. The political organization was established after a merger between the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance and the Progressive Conservative party.

Support is considerably higher for two other federal party leaders. 78 per cent of respondents would keep New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton, while 76 per cent would retain Giles Duceppe of the Bloc Québécois.

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, which is expected to conclude in December 2005. Martin has vowed to hold a federal election "within 30 days of the publication of the commission's final report and recommendations."

Polling Data

If you had your way, would you like to see the Liberals, the Conservatives, the NDP and in Quebec, the Bloc Québécois keep or replace their leaders?

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