Canadians Split on Whether Accusations of Robo-Call Conservative Conspiracy are True (50%) or Not (47%)

Toronto, ON - Canadians are split on whether the robo-call accusations levied against the Conservative party about an organized conspiracy to suppress the oppositions' vote during the last election are true, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television. While Prime Minister Harper and the Conservatives maintain they had no knowledge of the calls, fully one half (50%) `agree' (16% strongly/34% somewhat) that `these accusations are true and the Conservative Party had a coordinated campaign to deceive Canadian voters with misleading telephone calls in the last election'. Conversely, the other half (47%) of Canadians `disagree' (20% strongly/26% somewhat), and 4% don't know.

Four percent (4%) of Canadians - which amounts to roughly one million adult Canadians most of whom are in Ontario, `strongly agree' that in the last federal election they received a call that deliberately tried to confuse them about the polling station at which they were to vote.

Despite the thousands of complaints filed with Elections Canada and a movement of protests over the accusations, a majority (54%) of Canadians `agree' (17% strongly/36% somewhat) that `this is just politics as usual and something all the parties do in one way or another'. However, nearly half (45%) `disagree' (22% strongly/23% somewhat) with this premise.

Many Canadians might have a passive attitude about the situation, but not about what should happen if the allegations prove to be true. Seven in ten (68%) `agree' (39% strongly/29% somewhat) that `if the Conservatives are proven to have done this, we should re-run the elections in the ridings where it happened'. Just three in ten (31%) `disagree' (15% strongly/16% somewhat) with this course of action.

While some might consider all of this to be inside baseball, two in three (66%) `agree' (20% strongly/46% somewhat) that they `pay attention to what is happening in Ottawa' and consider themselves to be `informed about national politics'. One in three (34%), however, are more tuned out, `disagreeing' (11% strongly/23% somewhat) that they pay attention to national politics and about the goings on in Ottawa.

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Postmedia News and Global News from March 6 to 8, 2011. For the survey, a representative randomly-selected sample of 1,001 adult Canadians was interviewed by telephone, and 2,153 interviews were conducted online via the Ipsos I-say panel. Ipsos merged the two sample sources and employed weighting to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflected that of the adult population according to Census data. A survey with an unwieghted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of sample of 1772 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error would be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to, methodology change, coverage error and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Darrell Bricker
CEO
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
416.324.2001
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. In October 2011 Ipsos completed the acquisition of Synovate. The combination forms the world's third largest market research company.

With offices in 84 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,363 billion (1.897 billion USD) in 2011.

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