Nation Status For Quebec Proves To Be Unpopular Idea Among Canadians

Toronto, ON - A new Ipsos Reid survey reveals that the proposed measures championed by Liberal leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff that Quebec be recognized as "a nation within the country of Canada" is not a very popular idea among everyday Canadians. Specifically, 42% indicate that if they knew that the new leader of the Liberal Party wanted to "recognize Quebec as a nation within the country of Canada" they would be "less likely to vote Liberal", versus just 10% who say this would make them more likely to support the Liberal party. Among self-identified Liberal supporters, 44% say this potential development would make them less likely to vote Liberal (15% say it would make them more likely to vote Liberal). Overall, 44% say this factor would not make a difference to them in terms of their likelihood to support the Liberal Party.

• In the province of Quebec (10% say this would make them "less likely" to vote Liberal, 23% say it would make them "more likely", and 63% say it would have "no impact").

Perhaps in part attributable to this potential new component of the Liberal Party platform, is the fact that six in ten Canadians (60%) disagree with the statement that "the Liberal Party is ready to govern Canada again"(38% strongly disagree). Thirty-four percent agree with this statement.

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted for CanWest News Service/Global News and fielded from October 31st to November 2nd, 2006. For this survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1002 adult Canadians was interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the aggregate results are considered accurate to within +/-0.1 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 will be larger within each sub-grouping of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data.

Full tabular results are available in the attached factum and tables.

For more information or to schedule a media interview, please contact:

Dr. Darrell Bricker
President & COO
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900
[email protected]

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