Bright Spark
Posts: 301 
Location: Whitby, Ontario
Location: Whitby, Ontario
March 23rd, 2007, 05:02 PM
Liberal supporters can whine all they want. Canadians are no longer fooled by the "scary" or "hidden agenda" scam any more.
The federal Conservatives got the budget boost they were hoping for, putting them on the cusp of a majority if an election were to be held today, latest poll numbers suggest.
Taken between March 20 and 21 following Monday's budget address, the Strategic Counsel survey for CTV News and The Globe and Mail asked: How would Canadians vote today?
Numbers for the NDP (13% from 15%), Bloc Quebecois (8% from 9%) and the Green Party (9% from 10%) were all down slightly compared to the last Strategic Counsel poll, taken one week before the budget was unveiled.
Pollster Allan Gregg says the Conservative Party's steadily-improving fortunes seem to be a reflection of its "steady, balanced approach to new initiatives."
"There's been a steady increase in Conservative support in this entire calendar year -- an eight-point climb from 31 per cent in January to 39 per cent now. And for the first time really since the summer of 2006 they are tied in Ontario with the Liberals" at 40 per cent, Gregg told CTV.ca.
Former Conservative MP John Reynolds, one of the prime minister's closest confidantes and the man who will run the Tory's next election campaign, was buoyed by the positive reaction to the budget.
"I like winning -- and we're going to win a majority government," he told CTV News.
According to the survey, the driving force behind the rising Tory fortunes is that the budget seems to have won over the most important voting block in the country: middle class voters.
And Gregg said while Tory weak spots from the 2006 campaign continue to persist today -- for instance, Conservatives still trail in support among immigrants and female voters -- they are starting to make inroads in those and other significant areas.
"For the first time we have them ahead among young people," said Gregg, "and they have a significant lead in a key battleground: non-metropolitan cities (with a population of less than one million people)."
Quebec
The one "black cloud" hovering over the Tories, said Gregg, is the attention drawn to the $2.3 billion the budget directs toward Quebec under the revamped equalization program.
Harper on Wednesday took to the B.C. airwaves to defend allegations his government used billions in tax dollars to buy Quebec votes.
The budget has been widely panned in B.C., with provincial ministers decrying the lack of funding for programs, including the battle against the pine-beetle infestation.
But while poll numbers show the majority (55 per cent) of Canadians thought Quebec benefited most from the transfer of funds under equalization, a majority of Quebecers (51 per cent) believe they received less than their fair share.
Gregg said this doesn't mean Harper has lost momentum in Quebec, pointing to the steady erosion of Bloc Quebecois support which fell 13 points -- from 46 per cent in January to 33 per cent today.
"We've never had the BQ at 33 per cent, and Harper knows this," said Gregg. "He knows that the lower the BQ vote is, the larger is the pool of soft federalist vote -- and the larger that gets, the more chance he has of consolidating it."
Law and order
The Liberals meanwhile, who are stalled at 31 per cent support among Canadians, seem convinced Harper intends to trigger a spring election -- using law and order as a pretext.
"Their next strategy, we know what it is," said Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, who has been levelled repeatedly by Tories with accusations of being soft on crime.
"It will be to try to come (up) with a crime bill that we cannot accept and to pretend we are soft on crime."
The Conservatives have already used procedural tricks to thwart a Liberal offer to fast-track four of the government's anti-crime bills through Parliament all the way to the Senate.
While the Conservatives argued the Liberal motion flies in the face of parliamentary procedure, the Liberals said the Tories have shown they're only interested in playing politics without being genuinely committed to their law-and-order agenda.
"It's cynical. It's shameful. I think Prime Minister Harper should hang his head in shame," Liberal justice critic Marlene Jennings told CTV.
The NDP, meanwhile, said it also smells an election in the wind.
"The people of Canada, I think, are starting to almost accept there will be an early election," New Democrat MP Peter Stoffer told CTV. "So I think they may just try and really roll the dice and go for it."
While the poll shows Harper's Tories are closer than they ever have been to a majority, Gregg said he believes the prime minister is unlikely to precipitate an election unduly. "But if one came, he would welcome it."
Liberal supporters can whine all they want. Canadians are no longer fooled by the "scary" or "hidden agenda" scam any more.
The federal Conservatives got the budget boost they were hoping for, putting them on the cusp of a majority if an election were to be held today, latest poll numbers suggest.
Taken between March 20 and 21 following Monday's budget address, the Strategic Counsel survey for CTV News and The Globe and Mail asked: How would Canadians vote today?
- 39 per cent said they would vote for a Conservative candidate.
- 31 per cent chose Liberal.
Numbers for the NDP (13% from 15%), Bloc Quebecois (8% from 9%) and the Green Party (9% from 10%) were all down slightly compared to the last Strategic Counsel poll, taken one week before the budget was unveiled.
Pollster Allan Gregg says the Conservative Party's steadily-improving fortunes seem to be a reflection of its "steady, balanced approach to new initiatives."
"There's been a steady increase in Conservative support in this entire calendar year -- an eight-point climb from 31 per cent in January to 39 per cent now. And for the first time really since the summer of 2006 they are tied in Ontario with the Liberals" at 40 per cent, Gregg told CTV.ca.
Former Conservative MP John Reynolds, one of the prime minister's closest confidantes and the man who will run the Tory's next election campaign, was buoyed by the positive reaction to the budget.
"I like winning -- and we're going to win a majority government," he told CTV News.
According to the survey, the driving force behind the rising Tory fortunes is that the budget seems to have won over the most important voting block in the country: middle class voters.
And Gregg said while Tory weak spots from the 2006 campaign continue to persist today -- for instance, Conservatives still trail in support among immigrants and female voters -- they are starting to make inroads in those and other significant areas.
"For the first time we have them ahead among young people," said Gregg, "and they have a significant lead in a key battleground: non-metropolitan cities (with a population of less than one million people)."
Quebec
The one "black cloud" hovering over the Tories, said Gregg, is the attention drawn to the $2.3 billion the budget directs toward Quebec under the revamped equalization program.
Harper on Wednesday took to the B.C. airwaves to defend allegations his government used billions in tax dollars to buy Quebec votes.
The budget has been widely panned in B.C., with provincial ministers decrying the lack of funding for programs, including the battle against the pine-beetle infestation.
But while poll numbers show the majority (55 per cent) of Canadians thought Quebec benefited most from the transfer of funds under equalization, a majority of Quebecers (51 per cent) believe they received less than their fair share.
Gregg said this doesn't mean Harper has lost momentum in Quebec, pointing to the steady erosion of Bloc Quebecois support which fell 13 points -- from 46 per cent in January to 33 per cent today.
"We've never had the BQ at 33 per cent, and Harper knows this," said Gregg. "He knows that the lower the BQ vote is, the larger is the pool of soft federalist vote -- and the larger that gets, the more chance he has of consolidating it."
Law and order
The Liberals meanwhile, who are stalled at 31 per cent support among Canadians, seem convinced Harper intends to trigger a spring election -- using law and order as a pretext.
"Their next strategy, we know what it is," said Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, who has been levelled repeatedly by Tories with accusations of being soft on crime.
"It will be to try to come (up) with a crime bill that we cannot accept and to pretend we are soft on crime."
The Conservatives have already used procedural tricks to thwart a Liberal offer to fast-track four of the government's anti-crime bills through Parliament all the way to the Senate.
While the Conservatives argued the Liberal motion flies in the face of parliamentary procedure, the Liberals said the Tories have shown they're only interested in playing politics without being genuinely committed to their law-and-order agenda.
"It's cynical. It's shameful. I think Prime Minister Harper should hang his head in shame," Liberal justice critic Marlene Jennings told CTV.
The NDP, meanwhile, said it also smells an election in the wind.
"The people of Canada, I think, are starting to almost accept there will be an early election," New Democrat MP Peter Stoffer told CTV. "So I think they may just try and really roll the dice and go for it."
While the poll shows Harper's Tories are closer than they ever have been to a majority, Gregg said he believes the prime minister is unlikely to precipitate an election unduly. "But if one came, he would welcome it."
Newbie
Posts: 7
March 23rd, 2007, 06:15 PM
Dion has zero credibility, Taliban Jack is far too left for most peoples taste, and Harper has disproven most of the scary image the Libranos tried their damnedest to paint during the last election.
I think there is still a big "We are Canada, our identity is to be not like the USA therefore we cannot have a conservative government!" mentality especially within young people which needs to be over come.
I talk to a number of people my age who say they don't like Harper but then can't really give me a reason why, and it certanily isn't that I'm not listening.
Dion has zero credibility, Taliban Jack is far too left for most peoples taste, and Harper has disproven most of the scary image the Libranos tried their damnedest to paint during the last election.
I think there is still a big "We are Canada, our identity is to be not like the USA therefore we cannot have a conservative government!" mentality especially within young people which needs to be over come.
I talk to a number of people my age who say they don't like Harper but then can't really give me a reason why, and it certanily isn't that I'm not listening.
March 23rd, 2007, 06:22 PM
I don't like Harper, because he is a sly politician. He is a very good politician, better than the other fellas and gals in Ottawa. As such I trust him about "" that much. Conversely, I do like his committment to strengthen our military, though I do not enjoy how he uses the military members for political points.
I don't like Harper, because he is a sly politician. He is a very good politician, better than the other fellas and gals in Ottawa. As such I trust him about "" that much. Conversely, I do like his committment to strengthen our military, though I do not enjoy how he uses the military members for political points.
March 23rd, 2007, 06:32 PM
Quoting Tonington
How is it you and I can agree on so many issues and still not find common ground on the AGW thing? lol
I don't like Harper, because he is a sly politician. He is a very good politician, better than the other fellas and gals in Ottawa. As such I trust him about "" that much. Conversely, I do like his committment to strengthen our military, though I do not enjoy how he uses the military members for political points.
March 23rd, 2007, 06:53 PM
Quoting Tonington
I used to like Irish Whiskey, well actuall Tequila was my thing, but I kept having the same allergic reaction, no matter what I drank, I kept breaking out in cuffs. I had to give it up.
Haha, I dunno Bear. Could be the drinks we like. Kool aid will do in a pinch, though I prefer bourbon 
Steven Hawking's Tutor
Posts: 4,982 
Location: Saint John, N.B.
Location: Saint John, N.B.
March 23rd, 2007, 08:45 PM
I saw a T-shirt once that perfectly described me as a young man:
INSTANT ASSHOLE; JUST ADD ALCOHOL
But I mellowed with age
Quoting CDNBear
that's hilarious!
I used to like Irish Whiskey, well actuall Tequila was my thing, but I kept having the same allergic reaction, no matter what I drank, I kept breaking out in cuffs. I had to give it up.
I saw a T-shirt once that perfectly described me as a young man:
INSTANT ASSHOLE; JUST ADD ALCOHOL
But I mellowed with age
Yo
Posts: 3,537
Location: Counting Flowers on the Wall
Location: Counting Flowers on the Wall
March 23rd, 2007, 08:46 PM
Quoting darkbeaver
He hugs them and kisses them and probably calls then George.
What does he do with them?
Time Out
Posts: 1,651
March 23rd, 2007, 09:03 PM
I love you Stephen, you CAN wing over the hearts of Canadians!
Let us get things done, come on Steve, WIN A MAJORITY!!
Harper is not going to cause a election, but if the polls keep climbing he might.
Politicians and left-wing media cry "Wolf!" because this doesn't have things for the low income, the single, the natives, the immigrants.
Well guess what I am darn happy with this budget and many families I know are too!
This is *finally* giving something to middle class working families... which are lucrative territory.
I love you Stephen, you CAN wing over the hearts of Canadians!
Let us get things done, come on Steve, WIN A MAJORITY!!
Harper is not going to cause a election, but if the polls keep climbing he might.
Politicians and left-wing media cry "Wolf!" because this doesn't have things for the low income, the single, the natives, the immigrants.
Well guess what I am darn happy with this budget and many families I know are too!
This is *finally* giving something to middle class working families... which are lucrative territory.
Yo
Posts: 3,537
Location: Counting Flowers on the Wall
Location: Counting Flowers on the Wall
March 23rd, 2007, 09:04 PM
Quoting westmanguy
And he likes cats, CATS.
I love you Stephen, you CAN wing over the hearts of Canadians!
Let us get things done, come on Steve, WIN A MAJORITY!!
Harper is not going to cause a election, but if the polls keep climbing he might.
Politicians and left-wing media cry "Wolf!" because this doesn't have things for the low income, the single, the natives, the immigrants.
Well guess what I am darn happy with this budget and many families I know are too!
This is *finally* giving something to middle class working families... which are lucrative territory.
Let us get things done, come on Steve, WIN A MAJORITY!!
Harper is not going to cause a election, but if the polls keep climbing he might.
Politicians and left-wing media cry "Wolf!" because this doesn't have things for the low income, the single, the natives, the immigrants.
Well guess what I am darn happy with this budget and many families I know are too!
This is *finally* giving something to middle class working families... which are lucrative territory.
