[ryan29]

Dion's approval rating down across country: poll
Updated Mon. Jan. 14 2008 11:00 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Over the past year, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion's approval rating has plummeted across Canada, according to a new Strategic Counsel poll.

The survey, conducted between Jan. 10-13 for CTV and The Globe and Mail, shows that Dion is the only national party leader to show a significant drop in support.

When respondents were asked if they found the leaders favourable, less than half said they had a good impression of Dion (difference between a Jan. 11-14, 2007 poll in brackets):

Stephen Harper, Conservatives: 58 per cent (+4)
Elizabeth May, Green Party: 56 per cent (-2)
Jack Layton, NDP: 55 per cent (-4)
Stephane Dion, Liberals: 39 per cent (-20)
"He had a tough year and we saw that in the media coverage, and what we're seeing is that the public's gotten to that," the Strategic Counsel's Peter Donolo told CTV.ca Monday.

"It has to be an issue of concern for him that his negatives are as high as they are, particulary if you look at it more deeply. He's got a higher percentage of people saying he's 'very unfavourable' than Stephen Harper, which is surprising, given that he hasn't been in that government hot seat -- Mr. Harper has."

In fact, 25 per cent of people found Dion "very unfavourable" in the survey and 34 per cent "somewhat unfavourable," totalling 61 per cent.
For the 39 per cent who approved of Dion, 34 per cent found him "somewhat favourable" but only 5 per cent "very favourable."
By comparison, 19 per cent found Harper "very unfavourable" and 23 per cent "somewhat unfavourable," while 43 per cent answered "somewhat favourable" and 15 per cent "very favourable."

"If there's any encouraging silver lining in this for Mr. Dion, it's that today he's kind of in the position that Stephen Harper was in, back in October 2005 on the eve of that general election," said Donolo.

"He had 58 per cent 'unfavourable,' and 21 per cent of that was 'very unfavourable.' It took an election campaign for Mr. Harper to kind of shed that, so an election campaign does have the possibility of shaking things up in that regard."

Voters don't want an early election

But while Dion has said he could be pushing for a spring election, the poll suggests the vast majority of Canadians would rather avoid going to the polls until Oct. 2009.

Under legislation that passed last summer, general elections are only called every four years in October unless a non-confidence motion is passed.

According to the survey, roughly two in three Canadians want to wait until October (difference between Jan. 10-13, 2007 poll in brackets):

October 2009: 66 per cent (+5)
Second half of 2008: 15 per cent (same)
First half of 2008: 10 per cent (-1)
Immediately: 3 per cent (-4)
Meanwhile, Dion's likeability seems to be having little impact on which party Canadians would vote for. The Liberals and Conservatives are still showing similar numbers to what surveys have suggested since last spring (difference between a Dec. 6-9 poll in brackets):

Conservatives: 36 per cent (+4)
Liberals: 30 per cent (+1)
NDP: 14 per cent (-2)
Bloc Quebecois: 11 per cent (+1)
Greens: 10 per cent (-3)
Although the Conservatives are six points above the Liberals, the margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 per cent.

"The Conservatives have a very difficult time breaking out of the mid-30s. A lot's going to depend on the election campaign," said Donolo.

Concern over the economy

If the opposition parties do pull the plug on the government and trigger an election soon, the economy could become a major campaign issue.

The poll suggests that 12 per cent of Canadians feel the economy is the most important issue facing the country, up 3 points from a July 12-15 survey. Health care also had 12 per cent, but that's a decrease of 4 points. The environment remains the top issue at 22 per cent.

In Ontario, 16 per cent of respondents felt that the economy was the most important issue, up from 5 per cent in July.

"That's a three-fold increase. That's what's driving the national numbers," said Donolo. "It's clear that the constant drumbeat of negative news about the economy is starting to sink in with Canadians."

When respondents were asked about their thoughts on the direction of the economy, a growing number believed it was getting worse (difference between a Nov. 8-11, 2007 poll in brackets):

Getting stronger: 18 per cent (-13)
Staying the same: 51 per cent (+8)
Getting worse: 28 per cent (+6)
Technical notes

The poll was conducted between Jan. 10-13 by The Strategic Counsel for CTV and The Globe and Mail.
The national sample size is 1,000 people and the margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
In Ontario, 379 people were sampled with a margin of error of 5 percentage points.
Results are based on tracking among a proportionate national sample of Canadians 18 years of age or older.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... TopStories

[hurley_108]

So what?

[ryan29]

hurley_108 hurley_108:

So what?

well if they don't want one wouldn't opposition be follish to give them something they don't want ?

or does the opposition not care and force one anyways .

[hurley_108]

ryan29 ryan29:

hurley_108 hurley_108:

So what?

well if they don't want one wouldn't opposition be follish to give them something they don't want ?

or does the opposition not care and force one anyways .

So the opposition should just roll over and let Harper do whatever he wants because a few people don't want to exercise their rights? No. The Canadian public needs to understand that frequent elections are a fact of life right now, and buck up and vote. If an election comes and goes that produces a majority, THEN they can take a break, but as it is, they need to understand that they put themselves in this situation, and they need to stop complaining.

[2Cdo]

hurley_108 hurley_108:

ryan29 ryan29:

hurley_108 hurley_108:

So what?

well if they don't want one wouldn't opposition be follish to give them something they don't want ?

or does the opposition not care and force one anyways .

So the opposition should just roll over and let Harper do whatever he wants because a few people don't want to exercise their rights? No. The Canadian public needs to understand that frequent elections are a fact of life right now, and buck up and vote. If an election comes and goes that produces a majority, THEN they can take a break, but as it is, they need to understand that they put themselves in this situation, and they need to stop complaining.

I think the main problem people have with frequent elections is the cost. But I do agree that minority governments are what we have to look forward for the immediate future. As much as I'd love to see a Harper majority I don't think any party will get the support needed for a majority anytime soon!

[mtbr]

hurley_108 hurley_108:

ryan29 ryan29:

hurley_108 hurley_108:

So what?

well if they don't want one wouldn't opposition be follish to give them something they don't want ?

or does the opposition not care and force one anyways .

So the opposition should just roll over and let Harper do whatever he wants because a few people don't want to exercise their rights? No. The Canadian public needs to understand that frequent elections are a fact of life right now, and buck up and vote. If an election comes and goes that produces a majority, THEN they can take a break, but as it is, they need to understand that they put themselves in this situation, and they need to stop complaining.

most Canadians prefer a minority so whats the point?

[Proculation]

yes the main problem is the cost.

Paying 200 M$ to get another minority conservative government ? what's the point ?

[ryan29]

hurley_108 hurley_108:

ryan29 ryan29:

hurley_108 hurley_108:

So what?

well if they don't want one wouldn't opposition be follish to give them something they don't want ?

or does the opposition not care and force one anyways .

So the opposition should just roll over and let Harper do whatever he wants because a few people don't want to exercise their rights? No. The Canadian public needs to understand that frequent elections are a fact of life right now, and buck up and vote. If an election comes and goes that produces a majority, THEN they can take a break, but as it is, they need to understand that they put themselves in this situation, and they need to stop complaining.

well i don't expect the opposition to rollover , i expect the opposite . but doesn't look like voters are too interested in the idea . there more or less tired of elections at the current moment .

[ryan29]

Proculation Proculation:

yes the main problem is the cost.

Paying 200 M$ to get another minority conservative government ? what's the point ?

the cost is always an issue with an election or by-election . but i doubt that is reason for polls numbers . i suspect some voters are simply tired of elections at current time . as there has been so many provincial and federal ones in recent years .

[CanadianGigolo]

Two ways to look at this, this is good for Harper that Dion down in the polls. I fthe shoe was on the other foot the Liberals would be calling an Election..... I believe the media is playing games, trying to trick the Conservatives into a call....But Harper should stand his ground and wait....... Liberals are dead in the water, no matter who's the leader is......

Harper is doing a great Job. Strong dollar means a strong Government!
Keep up the good work!
Sammy

now Ottawa or Detroit Mr Harper you have to choose!

[ridenrain]

I love how the voters never want an election when the Liberanos are not leading. I guess they didn't tell Dion because he was talking tough all last month. Would that be a flip flop?

I don't really think the average Canadian cares one way or another about the federal government. Most of them are so jaded and cynical after dcades of the same crap from the Libs and the PCs. The federal partien need to stop screwing around and take a higher road, and I like to believe that's what Harper is doing. The problem is nothing as large as Ottawa changes overnight, but if we can keep pushing for more accountability and representation, maybe more Canadians will pay attention and things can change.

[kenmore]

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe believes there is a chance a federal election could be called within a month over the Conservatives' aid package for hard-hit economic sectors.
hmmm looks like they are going to get one pretty soon... then they will dump baby bush and we will have a majority liberal government for 4-12yrs to put the country back together again.. something stevie humpty dumpty baby bush harper couldnt do... cheers

[ryan29]

kenmore kenmore:

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe believes there is a chance a federal election could be called within a month over the Conservatives' aid package for hard-hit economic sectors.
hmmm looks like they are going to get one pretty soon... then they will dump baby bush and we will have a majority liberal government for 4-12yrs to put the country back together again.. something stevie humpty dumpty baby bush harper couldnt do... cheers

did you even bother to read the poll results ?

thats not what the credible polls are saying , only a few have said dion is ahead and those are still within margin of error .
and everyone believes were looking at another minority situation as well .

[mtbr]

ryan29 ryan29:

kenmore kenmore:

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe believes there is a chance a federal election could be called within a month over the Conservatives' aid package for hard-hit economic sectors.
hmmm looks like they are going to get one pretty soon... then they will dump baby bush and we will have a majority liberal government for 4-12yrs to put the country back together again.. something stevie humpty dumpty baby bush harper couldnt do... cheers

did you even bother to read the poll results ?

thats not what the credible polls are saying , only a few have said dion is ahead and those are still within margin of error .
and everyone believes were looking at another minority situation as well .

I figured Kenmore out he's actually a Conservative but doesn't want to admit it.

He has desires to move to Calgary so he can vote Conservative without any reprisals from his friends and family in Quebec

[kenmore]

mtbr...... this guy is the farthest from a tory you could get... trust me.. moving to Calgary would be awesome ..and the first thing I would do is take you to dinner ....