Canadians want majority, expect minority: poll
Last Updated Mon, 28 Nov 2005 19:56:15 EST
CBC News
Seventy per cent of Canadians believe that the House of Commons will look pretty much the same after an election as it did before, according to a poll conducted by Environics Research for the CBC.
INDEPTH: Politicians facing cynical electorate as campaign opens
Environics Research for CBC; Nov. 21 to Nov. 25; Sample size 1,641; Margin of error +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20
Yet only 31 per cent of those asked say a minority government would be better than a majority. That's down four points from a similar poll conducted by Environics before the last election campaign got underway.
The new poll - conducted between Nov. 21 and 25 - shows a cynical electorate that's deeply divided. While 47 per cent of those asked said it's time to turf the Liberals, the same number said the country would be better off under the Liberals than under the Conservatives.
The poll suggests voters have little faith in their federal political leaders and that an overwhelming majority - 73 per cent - don't really expect politicians to keep their election promises once they are in power.
Almost two-thirds of those asked said when it comes to honesty and integrity, all parties are pretty much the same. Yet 94 per cent said honesty and integrity in government are either somewhat or very important in determining how they plan to vote.
Donna Dasko, senior vice-president of Environics Research, says what strikes her about the poll is that no one party rises above the fray when it comes to honesty.
"We see it also when we ask which party is best able to run an honest government. They don't know. They can't pick anyone who's better than ... than anyone else. So they're looking for it, they're not sure where they're going to find it. And that's part of the cynicism, as well."
The poll suggests Canadians will likely face a second consecutive minority government for the first time since Lester Pearson led the Liberals to back-to-back minority governments 40 years ago.
Of decided voters asked, 35 per cent said they would vote Liberal. The Conservatives came in at 30 per cent and the NDP were picked by 20 per cent.
The Bloc Québécois had the support of 14 per cent of voters nationally, which translates to an overwhelming 59 per cent in Quebec. The Liberals were second in Quebec at 22 per cent.
In Ontario, the Liberals hold a 12-point lead over the Conservatives, while on the Prairies, the Conservatives enjoy the support of 56 per cent of decided voters compared to 22 per cent each for the Liberals and New Democrats.
The numbers are much closer in British Columbia, where Liberals are slightly ahead of the Conservatives (36 per cent and 34 per cent respectively) - and not that far ahead of the NDP (28 per cent).
The politicians may take some solace in one of the poll's findings: Canadians don't seem to be concerned that they'll be facing a Christmas election. Sixty-two per cent of those asked said it's not important that the holiday season is being interrupted by an election campaign.
