June 01, 2004

Abstract: (CPOD) Jun. 1, 2004 - The ruling Liberal party has lost backing in the first few days of the federal election campaign in Canada, according to a tracking poll by SES Research and CPAC. 34 per cent of respondents would vote for the Liberals, a seven per cent drop in four days.

(CPOD) Jun. 1, 2004 - The ruling Liberal party has lost backing in the first few days of the federal election campaign in Canada, according to a tracking poll by SES Research and CPAC. 34 per cent of respondents would vote for the Liberals, a seven per cent drop in four days.

The Conservative party is in second place with 31 per cent, a three per cent increase. The New Democratic Party (NDP) is third with 18 per cent, followed by the Bloc Québécois with 12 per cent and the Green party with three per cent.

Canadian voters will renew the House of Commons on Jun. 28. The Liberal party achieved three straight majority governments under Jean Chrétien in 1993, 1997 and 2000. Current prime minister Paul Martin leads the ruling political organization into a federal election for the first time.

Yesterday, Conservative leader Stephen Harper promised to increase military spending by $881 million U.S. each year. A statement issued by the NDP referred to Harper's position as a "desire to join military adventures like the Iraq war."

Polling Data

If a federal election were held today, could you please rank your top two current local voting preferences?
(Top preference listed)

	May 27-29	May 23-25
Liberal	34%	41%
Conservative	31%	28%
New Democratic Party	18%	18%
Bloc Québécois	12%	11%
Green	3%	3%

Source: SES Research / CPAC
Methodology: Interviews to 600 Canadian voters, conducted from May 27 to May 29, 2004 (200 interviews conducted each day). Margin of error is 4.1 per cent.