The majority approve of PM's performance, despite belief that he should step aside before the next election

THE MAJORITY APPROVE OF PM'S PEREFORMANCE, DESPITE BELIEF THAT HE SHOULD STEP ASIDE BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION

BUT IF PM SHOULD DECIDE TO STAY AND LEAD LIBERALS, A PLURALITY GIVE HIM THE NOD TO FORM NEXT GOVERNMENT

This Angus Reid Group/CTV/Globe and Mail poll was conducted by telephone between November 9th and November 15th, 1998 among a representative cross-section of 1,515 Canadian adults.

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

With a national sample of 1,515, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results 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 within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

The majority of Canadians approve of Prime Minister Chrйtien's performance, despite widespread feeling that he should step aside before the next election. But if the PM should decide to stay on, a plurality of Canadians (38%) give him and the Liberals the nod to form the next government a National Angus Reid Poll indicates. The poll was conducted among 1,515 Canadians between November 9th and November 15th, 1998 provides insight into public opinion on the Prime Minister's leadership. Among the poll's highlights:

• Despite a 9 point drop since June of this year, the Prime Minister still holds a majority approval rating at 56%. Currently, two in five Canadians (41%) say that they disapprove of his performance - an increase of 9% since June 1998.
• Sixty-five percent of Canadians feel that the Prime Minister should "step aside for someone else" before the next election (compared to 58% in July 1998), rather than lead the Liberal Party into the next election (31%). Furthermore, fewer than three in ten (27%) Canadians believe that Mr. Chrйtien has done a good job of providing a vision for the future, and only four in ten (40%) believe the PM provides leadership that is right for the times.
• There is a slight downward trend in approval ratings for Prime Minister Chrйtien's performance in specific areas and issues: "managing day-to-day affairs" has dropped from 49% in July to 44%, providing leadership that is "right for the times" has dropped from 45% to 40%; and, providing "honest and trustworthy government" has dropped from 41% in July to 36%. The lowest levels of approval are assigned to the PM's performance in "representing the interests" of the respondent's province (24%) and what he has done to "preserve the Canadian healthcare system" (22%).
• Respondents were then asked, "let's suppose that Jean Chrйtien does not step aside and decides to lead the Liberal Party in the next federal election. Of the following options, which one would you be more likely to vote for?" Despite low performance level approvals and the opinion of two-thirds (65%) that he should step aside before the next election, the Prime Minister and the Liberals are given the nod by a plurality (38%) to form the next government, followed then by the Conservative Party at 21%, the Reform Party at 13%, NDP at 11% and finally the Bloc with 9% of the national vote.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Darrell Bricker
Executive Vice-President
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900

Christian Bourque
Directeur de recherche Affaires
Groupe Angus Reid
(514) 877-5550