(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Canada believe Conservative leader Stephen Harper wants to force a federal election solely to sack the current government, according to a poll by Ipsos-Reid released by CanWest Global. 58 per cent of respondents think the opposition party just wants to be in power, while 37 per cent say the Tories can no longer support a Liberal administration that is corrupt.

The Liberal party has administered the federal government without interruption since September 1993, winning three majority mandates under Jean Chrétien. 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 Chrétien's tenure 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.

On Apr. 27, Harper criticized an agreement on the federal budget reached by Martin and New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton, saying, "I will be asking our caucus to put this government out of its misery at the earliest possible opportunity."

A sitting administration can only be toppled when it loses a vote that deals with confidence or finances. On May 6, Conservative house leader Jay Hill said his party "will take whatever steps necessary to hold the government accountable and have an election as early as possible."

Polling Data

Why do you think Stephen Harper and the Conservatives want to force an election now?

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