OTTAWA – The election frenzy gripping the country’s political class hasn’t stirred any movement among voters, a new poll suggests.
The latest survey by The Canadian Press Harris-Decima indicates the Conservatives were maintaining a slight lead in popular support, with 34 per cent to the Liberals’ 30 per cent.
The NDP were at 15 per cent, the Green party at 10, and the Bloc Quebecois at nine.
The findings from the rolling two-week poll were virtually unchanged from last week, even though politicians have been jockeying non-stop for electoral advantage.
An election could be triggered as early as Friday, but the NDP are now signalling they will likely prop up Stephen Harper’s minority Conservative government in order to pass legislation to extend EI benefits.
The poll suggests New Democrats have good reason to avoid an election now. Their party was trailing badly in the crucial battlegrounds of Ontario and Quebec and well behind in British Columbia, which delivered a quarter of NDP seats in last October’s election.
In Ontario, the survey found the Liberals and Tories in a statistical dead heat, with 38 per cent and 35 per cent support respectively. The NDP was a distant third with 15 per cent while the Greens had 10 per cent.
In Quebec, the Bloc extended its lead slightly. The separatist party stood at 39 per cent, with the Liberals at 30 per cent, the Tories at 16, the NDP at seven and the Greens at six.
The Conservatives maintained the advantage in B.C., with 36 per cent. The Liberals and NDP were tied at 23 per cent while the Greens had 17 per cent.
In Atlantic Canada, the Liberals and Tories were statistically tied with 32 per cent and 30 per cent support respectively. The NDP were in contention with 24 per cent while the Greens had 12.
Alberta remained a stronghold for the Tories, who had 63 per cent support compared to 15 per cent for the Liberals and 10 per cent each for the NDP and Greens.
In Manitoba-Saskatchewan, the Tories were also strong, at 45 per cent compared to 35 per cent for the NDP, 18 for the Liberals and 10 for the Greens.
The telephone survey of just over 2,000 Canadians was conducted Sept. 3-13. A sample this size is considered accurate within a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points, 19 times in 20.
The margin of error is larger for regional sub-samples.
