April 15, 2004

Abstract: (CPOD) Apr. 15, 2004 - The Liberal Party is losing support in Canada, according to a poll by Ipsos-Reid released by CTV and the Globe and Mail. 35 per cent of respondents would support the Liberals in the next federal election, a three per cent drop since March.

(CPOD) Apr. 15, 2004 - The Liberal Party is losing support in Canada, according to a poll by Ipsos-Reid released by CTV and the Globe and Mail. 35 per cent of respondents would support the Liberals in the next federal election, a three per cent drop since March.

The Conservative Party is second with 28 per cent. On Mar. 20, the political organization chose Stephen Harper as its national leader. Harper had commanded the Canadian Alliance, which merged with the Progressive Conservatives to create the new party last year.

Liberal leader Paul Martin took over as Canada's prime minister on Dec. 12, 2003. Support for the ruling party had been affected after a controversy over the federal sponsorship program, initiated under former prime minister Jean Chrétien. Although Martin does not have to hold a federal vote until November 2005, there is growing speculation about an election call this spring.

The poll suggests the Liberals would elect somewhere between 144 and 148 lawmakers to the House of Commons, short of the 155 required to form a majority government. The New Democratic Party is third with 18 per cent, followed by the Bloc Québécois with 10 per cent.

Polling Data

What party would you vote for in the next federal election?

	Apr. 2004	Mar. 2004
Liberal	35%	38%
Conservative	28%	27%
New Democratic Party	18%	15%
Bloc Québécois	10%	10%

Source: Ipsos-Reid / CTV / The Globe and Mail
Methodology: Interviews to 1,000 adult Canadians, conducted from Apr. 6 to Apr. 8, 2004. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.