LIBERALS (47%) STILL TOPS IN FEDERAL VOTE AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE APPROVAL (62%)

LIBERALS (47%) STILL TOPS IN FEDERAL VOTE AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE APPROVAL (62%)

ONLY 4 IN 10 (39%) APPROVE OF REFORM PARTY AS OFFICIAL OPPOSITION

MORE CANADIANS APPROVE OF PC (43%) AND NDP (42%) AS OPPOSITION PARTY

PM GETS TOP MARKS IN LEADER PERFORMANCE APPROVAL (59%) VS OTHER LEADERS -- CLARK (44%), MCDONOUGH (44%) OUTPACE MANNING (38%)

HEALTH CARE (38%) CONTINUES TO BE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR GREATEST NATIONAL ATTENTION

This National Angus Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll is based on two national telephone surveys. The first was conducted between May 25th and May 30th, 1999 and the other between June 3rd and June 9th, 1999 among a representative cross-section of 1,500 Canadian adults in each survey.

These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age and sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to 1996 Census data.

With a national sample of 1,500, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results for each survey are within +2.5 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

These most recent findings show that the federal Liberal government remains unchallenged in the polls. In fact, the Grits hold nearly half (47%) of the decided vote followed by the Progressive Conservatives at 18% and Reform and NDP tied at 12%. The BQ holds 11% of the decided vote nationally and 43% of Quebec voters. Another 13% of Canadians are unsure of which party they would support.

Approval ratings of the federal government also reflect a positive sentiment toward the Liberals with 62% of Canadians indicating that they approve of the government's performance. Only four in ten (39%) Canadians approve of the Reform's performance as the official opposition - compared to PC (43%) and NDP (42%) approval ratings. The issue of greatest importance to Canadians and their national leaders is health care (38%).

These are the highlights gleaned from two national Angus Reid Group/CTV/Globe and Mail telephone surveys of 1,500 Canadian adults each - 3,000 in total. Interviews were conducted between May 25th and May 30th, 1999 and the second survey was conducted from June 3rd to June 9th, 1999. A sample size of 1,500 is said to have a corresponding margin of error of +2.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

LIBERALS (47%) STILL TOPS IN FEDERAL VOTE - PC (18%), REFORM (12%), NDP (12%)

The federal government enjoys the support of nearly half (47%) of decided voters in Canada, followed by the Progressive Conservatives at 18% and Reform and NDP tied at 12%. The BQ holds 11% of the decided vote nationally and 43% of Quebec voters. Another 13% of Canadians are unsure of which party they would support if a federal election were held today.

• Highest levels of support for the Liberal government are found in Ontario (55%), Saskatchewan/ Manitoba (48%) and Atlantic Canada (46%).
• The federal Progressive Conservatives garner greater levels of support in Ontario (26%), Atlantic Canada (24%) and Alberta (23%) than other areas of Canada. Older Canadians (23%) and Canadians who have a family income over $60,000 (23%) are also more likely to support the PCs.
• The Reform Party enjoys high levels of support from British Columbians (37%) and Albertans (37%); however, support east of Alberta is much lower - Saskatchewan/ Manitoba (17%), Ontario (7%), Quebec (2%) and Atlantic Canada (3%). A weaker division also exists along gender lines where men (16%) are more likely to support Reform than are women (9%).
• Regionally, the NDP is most likely to be supported by Atlantic Canadians (27%) and Canadians living in Saskatchewan/Manitoba (24%).

TWO THIRDS (62%) OF CANADIANS APPROVE OF LIBERAL GOVERNMENT OVERALL PERFORMANCE

Six in ten (62%) Canadians approve of the federal government's overall performance. The intensity of that approval lies with the 55% who somewhat approve rather than the 7% who strongly approve of the government's performance. One third (36%) of Canadians say they disapprove of the Liberal's overall performance. A mere 2% of Canadians were unable to provide an opinion on the government's performance.

• Ontarians (67%) are the most likely to approve of the federal government's overall performance.
• Approval of the federal government is highest among younger Canadians (66%) and those who have an annual income of $60,000 or more (67%).

RATING THE LEADER'S APPROVAL

Prime Minister Chretien receives the highest approval ratings of the federal party leaders with six in 10 (59%) Canadians approving of his leadership. Nearly four in ten Canadians (38%) say they disapprove of his leadership, while 4% are uncertain.

Joe Clark and Alexa McDonough each receive approval from 44% of Canadians. However, Joe Clark has higher levels of disapproval (36%) and a lower proportion of Canadians unsure of his performance (21%). Ms. McDonough's disapproval sits at only 26%, the lowest disapproval rating for the federal leaders; however, 29% of Canadians were unable to offer an opinion of her leadership.

Reform Party leader Preston Manning's performance as party leader is approved of by four in 10 (38%) Canadians. Be that as it may, nearly half (49%) of Canadians disapprove of his performance as leader of the Opposition Party.

Gilles Duceppe maintains an approval rating of 46% with Quebecers, while another four in 10 (40%) disapprove of his performance as leader of the Bloc. Only 13% of Quebecers are unable to judge the leadership of Gilles Duceppe.

RATING THE CURRENT AND POTENTIAL OPPOSITION PARTIES

Reform Performance:

Nearly four in ten (39%) say they approve of Reform's performance, while another 10% are unable to offer an opinion. Half (51%) of Canadians say that they disapprove of the Reform Party as the official opposition.

• Regionally, residents of Quebec (60%) and Atlantic Canada (57%) are more likely to disapprove of Reform's performance as the official opposition. On the other hand, approval of Reform's performance is highest in Western Canada - Alberta (60%) followed by BC (56%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (52%).
• Younger Canadians (46%), men (45%) and those earning more than $30,000 per annum (42%) are more likely to approve of Reform's performance.

PC Performance

Canadians are split on the approval of the federal Progressive Conservatives as an opposition party - 43% approval versus 43% disapproval. Fourteen percent of Canadians were unable to offer an opinion of the federal PCs.

• Highest levels of approval for the PCs are garnered in Atlantic Canada (56%), while residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (50%) and BC (48%) are more likely to disapprove.
• Men (48%) are more likely than women (37%) are to indicate that they are disapproving of federal Tory performance as a party in opposition.

NDP Performance

Again, Canadians are split on the rating of the performance of the federal New Democratic Party as an opposition party - 42% approval versus 43% disapproval. Fourteen percent of Canadians were unable to offer an opinion of the federal NDP performance.

• NDP approval is highest among Atlantic Canadians (50%) and lowest with the residents of BC (54%).
• Younger Canadians (48%) are more likely to approve of the NDP as an opposition party; whereas, older Canadians (aged 55+, 52%) and men (47%) and Canadians earning over $60,000 per annum (48%) are most likely to disapprove.

Bloc Quebeзois Performance

Seven in ten (71%) Canadians disapprove of the performance of the Bloc as an opposition party of Canada - 21% approve, while 8% offer no opinion. However, the majority (55%) of Quebecers approves the Bloc Quebecois' performance - 40% disapprove and 5% "don't know".

MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES - HEALTH CARE STILL AT TOP OF LIST (38%)

Four in ten (38%) Canadians indicate that health care should receive the greatest attention from Canada's leaders.

• Ontarians (44%) and Atlantic Canadians (52%) are most likely to mention health care as the most important issue facing the nation. British Columbians (18%) are the least likely Canadians to indicate that health care is one of the most important issues facing the country.
• Health care is more likely to be mentioned as an important issue for Canada's leaders by those aged 55+ (43%) and women (46%). Other concerns mentioned by Canadians include jobs/unemployment (25%) and education (20%). The war in Kosovo was also mentioned by a significant minority (14%) and is mentioned twice as often by Western Canadians (23%) than rest of Canadians (11%).

For further information contact:
Dr. Darrell Bricker, Executive Vice-President
ANGUS REID GROUP, INC.
(416) 324-2900