(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Paul Martin barely remains the first choice to head Canada's federal government, according to a poll by Léger Marketing. 26 per cent of respondents think the Liberal party leader would make the best prime minister.

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.

Conservative leader Stephen Harper is a close second with 25 per cent, followed by Jack Layton of the New Democratic Party with 14 per cent, and Giles Duceppe of the Bloc Québécois with nine per cent.

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. 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.

A sitting government can only be toppled when it loses a vote that deals with confidence or finances. On Apr. 14, Martin acknowledged that the inquiry is "hurting" his party, adding, "When there's a problem, you confront it, you tell the people about it, and then you solve it. (...) If you do that, the people will support you."

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If you could choose among the following people, who would you want to see as the next prime minister of Canada?

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