Pre-Election Budget Sabre Rattling Masks
Stagnant Party Vote Strength

Toronto, ON - With Canada's federal opposition parties throwing down the gauntlet ahead of the March budget which could see the government fall if it doesn't convince at least one other party to lend its support, a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television has revealed that Canadian voting intentions have returned to very familiar ground. With most Canadians not wanting to go to the polls and attack ads filling the airways, support for Canada's two leading parties has returned to previous levels that have remained virtually stagnant throughout 2010.

If an election were to be held tomorrow, the Conservatives under Prime Minister Stephen Harper would receive 34% of the vote among decided voters (down 5 points since Ipsos' last poll in December, 2010), while the Liberals led by Michael Ignatieff would receive 29% of the vote (unchanged). Jack Layton and the NDP would receive 16% of the vote (up 4 points), while the Green Party and Elizabeth May would garner 10% of the vote (up 1 point). The Bloc would receive 11% of the vote, nationally (up 1 point), while 7% of Canadians are undecided. One percent (1%) of Canadians would vote for some other party.

In the key battleground of Ontario, the Grits (40%) have edged ahead of the Tories (36%), while the NDP (15%) and Green Party (8%) lag.

In Quebec, the Bloc (42%) continues to hold a commanding lead, while the Liberals (16%), Conservatives (15%), NDP (14%) and Green Party (12%) are all well behind.

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These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television from January 20 to February 2, 2011. For the survey, a representative randomly-selected sample of 1,008 adult Canadians was interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population of Canada been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure that the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data. 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
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.

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

About Ipsos

Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.

Member companies 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. They measure public opinion around the globe. Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999. In 2009, Ipsos generated global revenues of e943.7 million ($1.33 billion U.S.).

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

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