April 26, 2004

Abstract: (CPOD) Apr. 26, 2004 - The ruling Liberal Party continues to lead all political organization in Canada, but has lost considerable backing in the past five months, according to a poll by Environics. 39 per cent of respondents would vote for the Liberals in the next federal election, a 12 per cent drop since December 2003.

(CPOD) Apr. 26, 2004 - The ruling Liberal Party continues to lead all political organization in Canada, but has lost considerable backing in the past five months, according to a poll by Environics. 39 per cent of respondents would vote for the Liberals in the next federal election, a 12 per cent drop since December 2003.

The Conservative Party is second with 29 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 has 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 later this year.

The New Democratic Party is third with 19 per cent, followed by the Bloc Québécois with 11 per cent.

Polling Data

If a Canadian federal election were held today, which one of the following parties would you vote for?

	Apr. 2004	Dec. 2003
Liberal	39%	51%
Conservative	29%	24%
New Democratic Party	19%	15%
Bloc Québécois	11%	8%
Other	3%	2%

Source: Environics
Methodology: Interviews to 1,940 eligible Canadian voters, conducted from Mar. 29 to Apr. 18, 2004. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.