Half (48%) of Canadians Believe Conservative Majority Government is Working Well (Up 8 Points)

Toronto, ON - As the political year draws to a close, one half (48%) of Canadians `agree' (14% strongly/34% somewhat) that `overall, the Conservative majority government in Ottawa is working well' for Canada, up 8 points since the end of 2013, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Global News. While the other half (52%) of Canadians `disagree' (23% strongly/29% somewhat) that the government is working well, these numbers should be encouraging to the Conservative government heading into an election year.

Moreover, half (49%) `approve' (16% strongly/34% somewhat) of `the way Stephen Harper is handling his job as Prime Minister', which is up 4 points from the proportion of Canadians who approved in Ipsos' year-end poll of 2012. Half (51%) `disapprove' (27% strongly/23% somewhat) with this job performance, down 4 points since 2012.

The government continues to make the economy its priority, and on this file 51% `approve' (14% strongly/38% somewhat) of the government's overall management of the Canadian economy, and 49% `disapprove' (18% strongly/31% somewhat). Approval is up 2 points since 2012, and disapproval is down 2 points.

By comparison, approval of Harper's handling of the economy is ahead of Canadians' approval rating for how their provincial premier is handling their respective provincial economies in every province but Alberta: Saskatchewan and Manitoba (40%), British Columbia (40%), Ontario (42%), Quebec (43%), Atlantic Canada (50%), Alberta (54%).

However, the data suggest that the federal government's prioritization of the economy might be coming at the expense of other files, such as the environment. Despite an increase of 5 points since last year, only four in ten (42%) `agree' (10% strongly/32% somewhat) that `the Harper government has struck the right balance between economic growth and environmental protection and management', while a majority (58%) `disagrees' (29% strongly/29% somewhat) that the right balance has been found. Furthermore, just four in ten (41%) `agree' (8% strongly/32% somewhat) that `the Harper government is doing a good job in protecting Canada's environment' (up 4 points), while a majority (59%) `disagrees' (33% strongly/26% somewhat) that it is (down 4 points).

Harper's Values and Approach...

Reflecting specifically on the `Prime Minister's values when it comes to where Canada should be headed', four in ten (44%) Canadians `agree' (12% strongly/32% somewhat) that they share his values, up 5 points. Nearly six in ten (56%) Canadians, however, `disagree' (28% strongly/27% somewhat) that they share his values, down 5 points.

Thinking about the Prime Minister's approach to politics and his style, while still in the minority opinions have improved slightly with nearly half (46%, up 3 points) agreeing (12% strongly/34% somewhat) that it has been `good for Canada', and four in ten (43%, up 4 points) agreeing (11% strongly/32% somewhat) that it has been `good for Parliament'. A majority disagrees that his approach has been good for Canada (54% disagree - 27% strongly/27% somewhat) or Parliament (57% disagree - 27% strongly/30% somewhat).

Conservatives Want Harper to Stay So Long as He is a Winner...

The Prime Minister has held that office since 2006, and he has given no indication of when he might step aside for a new leader, assuring Canadians that he will definitely lead the Conservatives through the next election in 2015. The poll suggests that Conservative voters are in no rush to see him leave. Among Conservative voters, seven in ten (71%) believe he `should stay on for as long as he is winning elections'. Two in ten (21%) think the Prime Minister should `run in the next election, but then step down a year or two afterwards to give another leader time to take over before the following election'. Just 8% of Tory supporters believe the `Prime Minister should resign before the 2015 election and let someone else lead the Conservative Party as Prime Minister into the election'.

MacKay leads list of Possible Successors ...

Thinking ahead to who might be a possible successor to Prime Minister Harper when he does decide to step down, the poll tested eight prominent Tories - but one rose to the top of the list.

At this early juncture, one in three (35%) Tory voters would like to see Peter MacKay, presently Attorney General and Minister of Justice, take over the leadership of the Party when the time comes. Other notable Tories tested, but who are at this stage well behind, include Jim Prentice (17%), Tony Clement (12%), John Baird (12%), John Tory (10%), Jason Kenney (8%), Rona Ambrose (4%) and Christian Paradis (3%).

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between December 16 to 19, 2014 on behalf of Global News. For this survey, a sample of 1,005 Canadians from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/- 3.5 percentage points had all Canadians adults been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Darrell Bricker, PhD
CEO
Ipsos Reid
Global 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.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

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. Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry.

With offices in 86 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 e1,712,4 million (2 274 M$) in 2013.

Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsos' offerings and capabilities.