Skip to content

Canadians want majority, but hesitant: poll

A new poll suggests Canadians would prefer a majority government be elected on May 2; they’re just not ready to hand one to either Stephen Harper or Michael Ignatieff.

OTTAWA — A new poll suggests Canadians would prefer a majority government be elected on May 2; they’re just not ready to hand one to either Stephen Harper or Michael Ignatieff.

The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey found 29 per cent would prefer a Conservative majority for Harper’s Tories; another eight per cent would prefer a Tory minority.

Sixteen per cent would prefer a majority led by Liberal Leader Ignatieff, and 12 per cent favoured a Grit minority.

Combining the findings for the two leaders, the poll suggests 45 per cent would like to see a majority government of some stripe versus 20 per cent who’d be content with another minority.

Canada has had seven tumultuous years of minority governments, punctuated by four inconclusive elections.

The poll also suggests no consensus has yet formed over the key issue of the campaign, with 19 per cent citing the economy, 10 per cent health care and eight per cent ethics.

The telephone survey of just over 1,000 Canadians was conducted March 24-27 and is considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1 pecentage points, 19 times in 20.