QUEBECERS ON A CLEAR QUESTION AND CLEAR MAJORITY

This Angus Reid Group/Globe and Mail/CTV poll is based on a telephone survey of 923 Quebec adults. Interviews were conducted between December 2nd and December 13th, 1999. A sample size of 930 is said to have a corresponding margin of error of +3.3 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

QUEBECERS ON A CLEAR QUESTION AND CLEAR MAJORITY

FOUR IN FIVE (80%) QUEBECERS AGREE WITH THE SUPREME COURT THAT THE RESULTS OF A QUEBEC REFERENDUM VOTE SHOULD ONLY BE RECOGNIZED IF A CLEAR MAJORITY OF QUEBECERS VOTE YES

On the heels of Legislation introduced in the House of Commons on a "clear question", "clear majority" for a referendum vote an Angus Reid Group/Globe and Mail/CTV poll reveals overwhelming support among Quebecers.

This Angus Reid Group/Globe and Mail/CTV poll is based on a telephone survey of 923 Quebec adults. Interviews were conducted between December 2nd and December 13th, 1999. A sample size of 923 is said to have a corresponding margin of error of +3.3 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

Four in five (80%) either "strongly agree" (59%) or "somewhat agree" (21%) that the results of a Quebec referendum vote should only be recognized if a clear majority of Quebecers vote yes

• 78% of francophones vs. 89% of anglophones agree with the need for a clear majority.
• As well, 77% of Parti Quebecois supporters and 75% of Bloc Quebecois supporters agree with the need for a clear majority.

When asked what a clear majority is, 36% of Quebecers say that 50 percent plus one is sufficient and 60% of Quebecers say that more than 50 percent plus one is required.

• The question asked was "Thinking about the notion of a clear majority of Quebecers voting for sovereignty, what percentage of eligible voters would you say is required for a clear majority?
  • 58% of francophones vs. 75% of anglophones say that more than 50 percent plus one is required for a clear majority.
• As well, 40% of Parti Quebecois supporters and 39% of Bloc Quebecois supporters say that more than 50 percent plus one is required for a clear majority.

Renewed sovereignty debate has yet to capture the attention of the Quebec public
Healthcare (59%) and education (37%) are the most pressing issues for their provincial leaders to address according to Quebecers. Only 15% feel that national unity/the constitution should be at the top of the political agenda virtually unchanged from 14% in August 1998 when the Angus Reid Group last asked this question. In addition, 71% of Quebecers do not feel that the Parti Quebecois should hold referendum on sovereignty during their current mandate.

Other key findings include:

• Four in ten (42%) Quebecers say that if a vote were held today they would vote yes in a referendum for sovereignty accompanied by an offer of partnership with the rest of Canada. This is a slight decrease from August 1998 when 43% of Quebecers said they would vote for sovereignty with partnership.
• Three in ten (28%) Quebecers say that they would vote yes in a referendum for becoming an independent country, separate from Canada. This is a slight decrease from August 1998 when 31% of Quebecers said they would vote for Quebec independence.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Mike Colledge
Senior Vice-President
Angus Reid Group
(613) 241-5802

Marc Beaudoin
Senior Research Manager
Angus Reid Group
(613) 241-5802