Test Driving the Campaign Narratives:
Conservative and Liberal Potential
Ballot Questions Square Off

Toronto, ON - As Jim Flaherty puts the finishing touches on the make-it-or-break-it budget which will be delivered in the House of Commons on Tuesday, a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television has tested two potential competing campaign narratives that appear to have emerged from the election rhetoric spinning around Parliament Hill.

The Conservatives are emphasizing their track record on the economy and ensuring economic stability going forward, while the opposition parties are stressing the need for a government that will be honest, open and trustworthy. Thinking about which is more important to Canadians in the next election, six in ten (63%) say that `electing a party and leader that will provide honest, open and trustworthy government' is more important, while four in ten (37%) believe that `electing a party and leader that will make sure that our economic recovery continues' is more important.

While the opposition's narrative appears to have more traction with voters, the results of the poll show that the Conservative party is still named as the party that would be best to follow through with the opposition's narrative. If elected as Canada's government, three in ten (28%) believe that the Conservative Party would do the best job of `providing honest, open and trustworthy government', while two in ten (22%) believe the NDP would do the best job of this. Just 15% say the Liberals would be the best at providing an honest, open and trustworthy government, followed by the Bloc at 7% (28% in Quebec). Three in ten (29%) don't endorse any of the major parties as best to deliver this type of government. Stated simply, the Tories lead on the issue that opposition parties want to push as their main reason for both bringing down the government and electing a new party to lead the country.

When it comes to the party that can do the best job at `making sure our economic recovery continues', four in ten (37%) choose the Conservative Party, while significantly fewer believe the Liberals (20%), NDP (14%) or Bloc (6%, 23% in Quebec) are best positioned to do this. Nearly one quarter (23%) don't believe any of these parties would do the best job at this.

Thinking about which party would `keep taxes under control', four in ten (36%) believe the Conservatives are best able to do this, while fewer believe the Liberals (17%), NDP (16%) or Bloc (6%, 23% in Quebec) are best positioned to do this. One quarter (25%) think that some other party would do a better job with this.

One in three (33%) believe the Conservatives would do the best job at `spending taxpayers money wisely', while others believe the NDP (18%), Liberals (16%) or Bloc (6%, 26% in Quebec) would do the best job of this. Three in ten (27%) don't believe any of these parties would do the best job at spending taxpayers money wisely.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between March 11 to 15, 2011, on behalf of Postmedia News and Global National. For this survey, a sample of 1,014 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. 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:

Sean Simpson
Senior Research Manager
Ipsos Reid
416.572.4474
[email protected]

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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.

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