56% OF QUEBECKERS FEEL THE MARTIN BUDGET IS GOOD NEWS FOR QUEBEC

56% OF QUEBECKERS FEEL THE MARTIN BUDGET IS GOOD NEWS FOR QUEBEC

BUT 46% BELIVE THE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT IS MORE CREDIBLE WHEN IT SAYS QUEBEC IS THE "BIG LOSER" IN THE BUDGET, COMPARED TO OTTOWA (43%) WHO SAYS BUDGET IS FAIR TO ALL PROVINCES

STALEMATE IN THE WAR OF NUMBERS BETWEEN OTTOWA AND QUEBEC CITY

The results presented here are taken from a telephone survey of 1,000 Quebec residents, conducted between February 17th and 22nd, 1999. These data are representative of the distribution of the Quebec population along all key demographic variables including Mother Tongue. As well, the distribution of the interviews across the province is representative of the geographic distribution of the population.

A sample of this size is said to be representative of the Quebec voting population +3,1%, 19 times out of 20.

When asked if the Martin budget meant, overall, good or bad news for Quebec, 56% reacted positively, compared to 38% who gave negative responses. It appears the budget mostly appealed to older Quebeckers (63%) as well as Anglophones (73%) and Allophones (72%). Political variables reveal that respondents' opinion of the Martin budget varied somewhat depending on one's voting and referendum voting intentions. While 76% of Quebec Liberal supporters report feeling positive about the federal budget, significantly less PQ supporters agree (40%). Roughly the same proportions apply to the difference between NO and YES supporters to a referendum on sovereignty (respectively 71% and 39%). (See table 1)

Looking into some of the initiatives in the budget, 75% reacted positively to the creation of the National Health Institutes, 77% were again positive about the new funds injected into health care, 78% felt positive about the abolition of the 3% surtax and 81% gave the budget's debt reduction strategy a "thumbs up". (See table 2)

But 46% believe the Quebec Government is more credible when it says Quebec is the "big loser" in the budget, compared to Ottawa (43%) who says budget is fair to all provinces

When asked who was more credible between Quebec City and Ottawa, when it came to arguments about the redistribution of funds between the provinces, 46% believed the Quebec Government to be more credible when it says "Quebec is the big loser", while 43% agreed with Ottawa's position that the budget is fair to all provinces (8% said "neither" and 4% simply did not know). Opinions are polarized, as 76% of those who intend to vote Yes in a referendum agree with Quebec City, while 69% of those who would vote No agree with Ottawa. This signifies a stalemate in the "war of numbers" between Ottawa and Quebec City. (See Table 3)

For further information, please contact:

Christian Bourque
Senior Research Director
Angus Reid Group
(514) 877-5550