Bright Spark
Posts: 301 
Location: Whitby, Ontario
Location: Whitby, Ontario
March 29th, 2007, 09:16 AM
Leger poll gives Tories 41 per cent support
var byString = ""; var sourceString = "Canadian Press"; if ((sourceString != "") && (byString != "")) { document.write(byString + ", "); } else { document.write(byString); } Canadian Press
Updated: Wed. Mar. 28 2007 9:21 PM ET
OTTAWA — A poll released Wednesday indicated countrywide support for Stephen Harper's Conservatives was at majority government levels in the immediate aftermath of the federal budget.
But caution is called for. A poll released Tuesday -- and started only days after the latest one -- painted a different picture and suggested the Conservatives remained short of majority territory.
The latest poll, from Leger Marketing, put the Conservatives at 41 per cent support. The level generally considered needed to produce a majority is 40 per cent.
The Leger poll, released to The Canadian Press, put the Liberals at 27 per cent support and the NDP at 14 per cent. Bloc support was at nine per cent and the Greens at six per cent.
Voters were asked: "If federal elections were held today, for which of the following political parties would you be most likely to vote for?''
Anne-Marie Marois, a spokeswoman for Leger Marketing, said the minority Conservatives have gained five percentage points since they were elected in January 2006.
"It's a steady improvement for the Conservatives,'' she said.
The Leger poll of 1,500 people was conducted between March 20 and 25, and the margin of error was plus or minus 2.6 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
The poll was done after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty brought down a budget that promised billions in new spending and tax breaks for families with children, measures that could have given the Tories a bit of a bounce. The budget passed Tuesday with support from the Bloc.
The Leger results give the Conservatives higher support than a Decima Research poll of 1,000 people started only days later, March 22 to 25. Tuesday's Decima poll put Conservative support nationally at 35 per cent, versus 31 per cent for the Liberals, 13 per cent for the NDP and 10 per cent for the Greens.
Marois said it's too early to tell how the rise of Mario Dumont's conservative Action democratique du Quebec in Monday's Quebec election might affect Tory fortunes in the province.
"We're going to have to let the Quebec government work a bit and see how the ADQ acts in Opposition,'' she said.
"Are sovereigntists going to remain with the Bloc? Are nationalist Quebecers going to turn to the Conservatives?''
Before undecided voters were factored in, Conservatives had the support of 33 per cent of respondents, ahead of 22 per cent for the Liberals and 12 per cent for the New Democratic Party. Support for the Bloc Quebecois was at seven per cent while the Green party garnered the backing of five per cent of respondents.
The Leger survey comes at a time when election speculation is rampant as people try to figure out when Prime Minister Stephen Harper will take the country to the polls.
Harper has been able to pursue an aggressive agenda since taking power with a minority government, but it's no secret he'd like a majority of the seats in the Commons.
The Leger poll indicates the Conservatives have yet to pass the dominant Bloc in Quebec. The poll suggested the Bloc still led with 36 per cent support compared to the Conservatives at 26 per cent, the Liberals a hair behind at 25 per cent, and the NDP trailing at 10 per cent.
The news was more encouraging in the other key electoral battleground of vote-rich Ontario, where Leger found the Conservatives polled at 44 per cent support, the Liberals at 32 per cent, the NDP at 14 per cent and the Greens at eight per cent.
The margin of error for the Quebec results is five percentage points, and 4.5 percentage points for Ontario.
Other good news for Harper in the Leger poll suggests 57 per cent of respondents were satisfied with his government and 35 per cent saw him as the party leader who would make the best prime minister.
Harper was followed by NDP Leader Jack Layton at 14 per cent and Liberal Leader Stephane Dion at 12 per cent.
Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe, who represents the sovereigntist side in Ottawa and has no interest in being prime minister, was the pick of five per cent of respondents, while Green party Leader Elizabeth May was the choice of four per cent of respondents.
Leger poll gives Tories 41 per cent support
var byString = ""; var sourceString = "Canadian Press"; if ((sourceString != "") && (byString != "")) { document.write(byString + ", "); } else { document.write(byString); } Canadian Press
Updated: Wed. Mar. 28 2007 9:21 PM ET
OTTAWA — A poll released Wednesday indicated countrywide support for Stephen Harper's Conservatives was at majority government levels in the immediate aftermath of the federal budget.
But caution is called for. A poll released Tuesday -- and started only days after the latest one -- painted a different picture and suggested the Conservatives remained short of majority territory.
The latest poll, from Leger Marketing, put the Conservatives at 41 per cent support. The level generally considered needed to produce a majority is 40 per cent.
The Leger poll, released to The Canadian Press, put the Liberals at 27 per cent support and the NDP at 14 per cent. Bloc support was at nine per cent and the Greens at six per cent.
Voters were asked: "If federal elections were held today, for which of the following political parties would you be most likely to vote for?''
Anne-Marie Marois, a spokeswoman for Leger Marketing, said the minority Conservatives have gained five percentage points since they were elected in January 2006.
"It's a steady improvement for the Conservatives,'' she said.
The Leger poll of 1,500 people was conducted between March 20 and 25, and the margin of error was plus or minus 2.6 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
The poll was done after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty brought down a budget that promised billions in new spending and tax breaks for families with children, measures that could have given the Tories a bit of a bounce. The budget passed Tuesday with support from the Bloc.
The Leger results give the Conservatives higher support than a Decima Research poll of 1,000 people started only days later, March 22 to 25. Tuesday's Decima poll put Conservative support nationally at 35 per cent, versus 31 per cent for the Liberals, 13 per cent for the NDP and 10 per cent for the Greens.
Marois said it's too early to tell how the rise of Mario Dumont's conservative Action democratique du Quebec in Monday's Quebec election might affect Tory fortunes in the province.
"We're going to have to let the Quebec government work a bit and see how the ADQ acts in Opposition,'' she said.
"Are sovereigntists going to remain with the Bloc? Are nationalist Quebecers going to turn to the Conservatives?''
Before undecided voters were factored in, Conservatives had the support of 33 per cent of respondents, ahead of 22 per cent for the Liberals and 12 per cent for the New Democratic Party. Support for the Bloc Quebecois was at seven per cent while the Green party garnered the backing of five per cent of respondents.
The Leger survey comes at a time when election speculation is rampant as people try to figure out when Prime Minister Stephen Harper will take the country to the polls.
Harper has been able to pursue an aggressive agenda since taking power with a minority government, but it's no secret he'd like a majority of the seats in the Commons.
The Leger poll indicates the Conservatives have yet to pass the dominant Bloc in Quebec. The poll suggested the Bloc still led with 36 per cent support compared to the Conservatives at 26 per cent, the Liberals a hair behind at 25 per cent, and the NDP trailing at 10 per cent.
The news was more encouraging in the other key electoral battleground of vote-rich Ontario, where Leger found the Conservatives polled at 44 per cent support, the Liberals at 32 per cent, the NDP at 14 per cent and the Greens at eight per cent.
The margin of error for the Quebec results is five percentage points, and 4.5 percentage points for Ontario.
Other good news for Harper in the Leger poll suggests 57 per cent of respondents were satisfied with his government and 35 per cent saw him as the party leader who would make the best prime minister.
Harper was followed by NDP Leader Jack Layton at 14 per cent and Liberal Leader Stephane Dion at 12 per cent.
Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe, who represents the sovereigntist side in Ottawa and has no interest in being prime minister, was the pick of five per cent of respondents, while Green party Leader Elizabeth May was the choice of four per cent of respondents.
Bright Spark
Posts: 301
Location: Whitby, Ontario
Location: Whitby, Ontario
March 29th, 2007, 09:18 AM
If the polls keep them above 40% for more than a month, Harper should pull the plug and put the Liberals out of their misery.
I'm tired of the Liberal whining and crying. It's time Canada put them where they belong; as far away from power as possible.
If the polls keep them above 40% for more than a month, Harper should pull the plug and put the Liberals out of their misery.
I'm tired of the Liberal whining and crying. It's time Canada put them where they belong; as far away from power as possible.
Member
Posts: 98
Location: Ontario
Location: Ontario
March 29th, 2007, 09:50 AM
I agree. It seems like the government likes to have them published so they can feel good about themselves. Why don't they wait for a real poll--which is called "election results" before congratulating themselves.
Quoting tamarin
Who's paying for all these stupid polls? And who decides that each and every one be published? Someone's massaging the masses. I wish they'd keep their fingers to themselves.
I agree. It seems like the government likes to have them published so they can feel good about themselves. Why don't they wait for a real poll--which is called "election results" before congratulating themselves.
Bright Spark
Posts: 301
Location: Whitby, Ontario
Location: Whitby, Ontario
March 29th, 2007, 09:54 AM
Polls have been going on for decades.
I find it rather odd, that all of a sudden NOW, they are being used to "massage the masses" I don't recall ever hearing that when the Liberals were in power for 13 years that it was a propoganda tool.
Sour grapes. Face it. The Liberals are out of favour with Canadians and it's only getting worse under Dion. What the hell we're they thinking when they chose Dion?
If the Liberals gave Harper the choice, he would have certainly picked Dion to run against.
Polls have been going on for decades.
I find it rather odd, that all of a sudden NOW, they are being used to "massage the masses" I don't recall ever hearing that when the Liberals were in power for 13 years that it was a propoganda tool.
Sour grapes. Face it. The Liberals are out of favour with Canadians and it's only getting worse under Dion. What the hell we're they thinking when they chose Dion?
If the Liberals gave Harper the choice, he would have certainly picked Dion to run against.
Genius
Posts: 929
March 29th, 2007, 10:16 AM
Quoting tamarin
polls exist for one reason...there are people out there who want to know the results, and will buy newspapers etc. to find out, so that the people who conduct the polls make a profit.
I could agree there! Polls exist because somebody has an agenda. And it's not ours.
Bright Spark
Posts: 315
Location: Atikokan, Ontario
Location: Atikokan, Ontario
March 29th, 2007, 10:38 AM
Quoting crit13
Geez, did the Liberals steal your girlfriend or something? You sure have a lot of empty anger towards them.
Polls have been going on for decades.
I find it rather odd, that all of a sudden NOW, they are being used to "massage the masses" I don't recall ever hearing that when the Liberals were in power for 13 years that it was a propoganda tool.
Sour grapes. Face it. The Liberals are out of favour with Canadians and it's only getting worse under Dion. What the hell we're they thinking when they chose Dion?
If the Liberals gave Harper the choice, he would have certainly picked Dion to run against.
I find it rather odd, that all of a sudden NOW, they are being used to "massage the masses" I don't recall ever hearing that when the Liberals were in power for 13 years that it was a propoganda tool.
Sour grapes. Face it. The Liberals are out of favour with Canadians and it's only getting worse under Dion. What the hell we're they thinking when they chose Dion?
If the Liberals gave Harper the choice, he would have certainly picked Dion to run against.
Genius
Posts: 813
Location: Eastern Ontario
Location: Eastern Ontario
March 29th, 2007, 11:07 AM
Funny what happens when you have a government in for a year that doesn't have any major screwups, doesn't have to fire or call for members resignation gives tax breaks based on the individuals incentives rather than just to throw money..i.e. transit pass tax breaks, Kids sports tax breaks.
It's very hard for the liberal's to continue to protray harper and Satans rep on earth, the longer he is in, the longer he shows not to have a hidden agenda, the more people see more liberal lies. You here, just wait till he has a majority..then he'll show the hidden agenda..sure..starts to sound like the Quebec referendum talk..people get sick of it as same old same old..they stop listening...Think thats whats happening to the Liberals
Funny what happens when you have a government in for a year that doesn't have any major screwups, doesn't have to fire or call for members resignation gives tax breaks based on the individuals incentives rather than just to throw money..i.e. transit pass tax breaks, Kids sports tax breaks.
It's very hard for the liberal's to continue to protray harper and Satans rep on earth, the longer he is in, the longer he shows not to have a hidden agenda, the more people see more liberal lies. You here, just wait till he has a majority..then he'll show the hidden agenda..sure..starts to sound like the Quebec referendum talk..people get sick of it as same old same old..they stop listening...Think thats whats happening to the Liberals
Bright Spark
Posts: 315
Location: Atikokan, Ontario
Location: Atikokan, Ontario
March 29th, 2007, 11:55 AM
And please bill, let's not go comparing 12 years of majority rule to one year of the slimmest minority in Canadian political history, where the official opposition has no leader, and being surprised (and smug) that there are far fewer 'screwups' in one camp than the other. And Michael Fortier, David Emerson, Garth Turner, income tax trusts, French secretary appointment Ted Menzies, who only speaks English, Lebanon/Canadian refugees, being hypocrits on jet usage, Wahjid Khan and his phantom report, and the disproportionate amount of money they just threw at Quebec would tend to disagree with your earlier statement. That's not exactly a shiny resume for a one year old minority government, and many more are available here.
While I have been in favour of some of the actions taken by this government, they have also come across as smug, arrogant and quite babyish in their interviews and in the HoC debates, and it's a real turn-off; I can't remember the last time I heard a Harper, Baird, Ambrose, etc. quote without the words "but the Liberals" or "compared to the Liberals" being used to justify whatever the government is doing at the current time. We get it, and you know what, we don't care anymore; it's old news. I want to see you lead and move the country forward, not listen to you drone on with a skewed history lesson from 13 years ago. Until this party starts acting like they're in government, and not playing the same tune they did while in opposition (which comes across as quite sad on both the national and the international stage), they won't be seeing my vote.
Quoting ottawabill
I have to say, the last half a year or so the Conservatives have looked awfully Liberal to me, in regards to their free spendings, their sudden focus on the environment, and pandering to the other left wing parties to gain support for motions to pass. I'm surprised that many of the staunch Conservative supporters are in favour of this style of 'right-wing party doing left-wing actions', because they sure weren't supporting it when the same actions were being done by the party across the floor. But I guess if your party's name is at the top, that's good enough.
Funny what happens when you have a government in for a year that doesn't have any major screwups, doesn't have to fire or call for members resignation gives tax breaks based on the individuals incentives rather than just to throw money..i.e. transit pass tax breaks, Kids sports tax breaks.
And please bill, let's not go comparing 12 years of majority rule to one year of the slimmest minority in Canadian political history, where the official opposition has no leader, and being surprised (and smug) that there are far fewer 'screwups' in one camp than the other. And Michael Fortier, David Emerson, Garth Turner, income tax trusts, French secretary appointment Ted Menzies, who only speaks English, Lebanon/Canadian refugees, being hypocrits on jet usage, Wahjid Khan and his phantom report, and the disproportionate amount of money they just threw at Quebec would tend to disagree with your earlier statement. That's not exactly a shiny resume for a one year old minority government, and many more are available here.
While I have been in favour of some of the actions taken by this government, they have also come across as smug, arrogant and quite babyish in their interviews and in the HoC debates, and it's a real turn-off; I can't remember the last time I heard a Harper, Baird, Ambrose, etc. quote without the words "but the Liberals" or "compared to the Liberals" being used to justify whatever the government is doing at the current time. We get it, and you know what, we don't care anymore; it's old news. I want to see you lead and move the country forward, not listen to you drone on with a skewed history lesson from 13 years ago. Until this party starts acting like they're in government, and not playing the same tune they did while in opposition (which comes across as quite sad on both the national and the international stage), they won't be seeing my vote.
Genius
Posts: 813
Location: Eastern Ontario
Location: Eastern Ontario
March 29th, 2007, 12:15 PM
optics my man...all optics.... Sure the Liberals were there forever but they told us of the terrible anti Canadain things that would happen if the Tories ever got their fingers on the country..this can from a party were lies had become front and center.
On the other front yep your right!!!! The Conservative have acted very Liberal. The don't have to fear for their core vote. No other conservative party exists right now. On the other end it makes liberal Canada say, hey I get what i want without screwups and lies....
Funny it's what the liberals did during the Reform/conservative years. All of a sudden they were very fiscally conservative..Looked good the the right, and the left had no other option....It's a stinking game...but it works.
optics my man...all optics.... Sure the Liberals were there forever but they told us of the terrible anti Canadain things that would happen if the Tories ever got their fingers on the country..this can from a party were lies had become front and center.
On the other front yep your right!!!! The Conservative have acted very Liberal. The don't have to fear for their core vote. No other conservative party exists right now. On the other end it makes liberal Canada say, hey I get what i want without screwups and lies....
Funny it's what the liberals did during the Reform/conservative years. All of a sudden they were very fiscally conservative..Looked good the the right, and the left had no other option....It's a stinking game...but it works.
Genius
Posts: 929
March 29th, 2007, 12:25 PM
Quoting ottawabill
It's not hard to understand why anyone who has ever read/heard Harper's words while he was with the NCC, or Reform/Alliance parties would be nervous about giving him a majority. Here are but a few reasons to be nervous: Link
You here, just wait till he has a majority..then he'll show the hidden agenda..sure..starts to sound like the Quebec referendum talk..people get sick of it as same old same old..they stop listening...Think thats whats happening to the Liberals
Genius
Posts: 813
Location: Eastern Ontario
Location: Eastern Ontario
March 29th, 2007, 01:10 PM
funny most of those quotes make him out to be...well conservative..OMG a conservative is at the helm of the Conservative party!!!
Many of the quotes I read were just the realility. i.e. we are not a bi-lingual nation..thats fact.. it's PC garbage to say otherwise. You try to order a cup of Coffee in French in say Toronto, you'd do better to ask for it in Cantonese.
Why would we put medicare in the constiution? It's an act not a way of life... Yes it's an important service but you don't add that sort of thing to a constitution..
NDP is the devil!
Ok not the devil...but not an angel either that would all have religious undertones..can't have that.
The truth is Steven Harper is Conservative, is he going to rework the whole country..nope...
You make him out to be so evil that he might as well just cancel elections take over and have us heil to him....sure....
I don't personally like the man, but his a conservative where conservatives belong..in the conservative party. Like I should go find the web site quoting NDP'ers sounding socialist?
funny most of those quotes make him out to be...well conservative..OMG a conservative is at the helm of the Conservative party!!!
Many of the quotes I read were just the realility. i.e. we are not a bi-lingual nation..thats fact.. it's PC garbage to say otherwise. You try to order a cup of Coffee in French in say Toronto, you'd do better to ask for it in Cantonese.
Why would we put medicare in the constiution? It's an act not a way of life... Yes it's an important service but you don't add that sort of thing to a constitution..
NDP is the devil!
Ok not the devil...but not an angel either that would all have religious undertones..can't have that.
The truth is Steven Harper is Conservative, is he going to rework the whole country..nope...
You make him out to be so evil that he might as well just cancel elections take over and have us heil to him....sure....
I don't personally like the man, but his a conservative where conservatives belong..in the conservative party. Like I should go find the web site quoting NDP'ers sounding socialist?
No party affiliation
Posts: 1,343
Location: Oshawa
Location: Oshawa
March 29th, 2007, 01:18 PM
Record surpluses, reduced debt, refusal to enter the Iraq disaster like Harper would have us in, lowest unemployment in decades, strong economic growth and prosperity.
13 years I don't regret and it was Mr. Manning that handed them this power for so long by spliting the vote and it took a lie to get the cons back on the same page.
I could make a list of things about the cons in there short reign as well but I don't think I want to make you cry.
Quoting crit13
I can think of some...
Empty anger??
Believe me. There are plenty of things that anger me about the Liberal party of Canada.
I could start a list, but I would be typing for about a week and half.
Believe me. There are plenty of things that anger me about the Liberal party of Canada.
I could start a list, but I would be typing for about a week and half.
Record surpluses, reduced debt, refusal to enter the Iraq disaster like Harper would have us in, lowest unemployment in decades, strong economic growth and prosperity.
13 years I don't regret and it was Mr. Manning that handed them this power for so long by spliting the vote and it took a lie to get the cons back on the same page.
I could make a list of things about the cons in there short reign as well but I don't think I want to make you cry.
No party affiliation
Posts: 1,343
Location: Oshawa
Location: Oshawa
March 29th, 2007, 01:21 PM
Give your head a shake.
Quoting ottawabill
If Harper does indeed have a hidden agenda do you think he would expose that in a minority government or would he think of ways to hold onto and strengthen his power by writing Liberal budgets and reversing his stance on the enviroment?
Funny what happens when you have a government in for a year that doesn't have any major screwups, doesn't have to fire or call for members resignation gives tax breaks based on the individuals incentives rather than just to throw money..i.e. transit pass tax breaks, Kids sports tax breaks.
It's very hard for the liberal's to continue to protray harper and Satans rep on earth, the longer he is in, the longer he shows not to have a hidden agenda, the more people see more liberal lies. You here, just wait till he has a majority..then he'll show the hidden agenda..sure..starts to sound like the Quebec referendum talk..people get sick of it as same old same old..they stop listening...Think thats whats happening to the Liberals
It's very hard for the liberal's to continue to protray harper and Satans rep on earth, the longer he is in, the longer he shows not to have a hidden agenda, the more people see more liberal lies. You here, just wait till he has a majority..then he'll show the hidden agenda..sure..starts to sound like the Quebec referendum talk..people get sick of it as same old same old..they stop listening...Think thats whats happening to the Liberals
Give your head a shake.
