Voting Intentions in Quebec and the Popularity of Party Leaders
PROVINCIAL VOTING INTENTIONS IN QUEBEC
With Jean Charest as leader, the Quebec Liberals would win the election
Given a scenario in which Mr. Johnson stepped down as leader of the Liberal Party and was replaced by Jean Charest, Quebecers would vote as follows: 46% for the Liberals, 39% for the Parti Quйbйcois, and 9% for Action Dйmocratique. (See Table 1)
If Johnson was still leading the Liberals, the Parti Quйbйcois would win the election. Among decided voters, 49% would vote for the Parti Quйbйcois, followed by 37% for the Liberal Party and 7% for Action Dйmocratique, while 6% of Quebecers surveyed would choose other political parties. (See Table 2)
REFERENDUM ON SOVEREIGNTY IF PQ IS RE-ELECTED FOR A SECOND TERM
Overall, 65% of Quebecers do not want a PQ government, if it was re-elected, to hold a referendum on sovereignty during its next term, compared with 33% who would like a referendum to be held within the next few years. (See Table 3)
When asked if they would vote for a political party other than the PQ to ensure that no referendum be held in the event of re-election of the PQ, 34% of Parti Quйbйcois supporters who do not want referendum said they would vote for another party, compared with 61% who would not switch parties. This 34% corresponds to 14% of all Parti Quйbйcois supporters. (See Table 4)
Lastly, 71% of Quebecers, including 63% of Parti Quйbйcois supporters, believe it would "be more honest" for the PQ government, in an eventual referendum on sovereignty, to ask a question on independence rather than on sovereignty-association. (See Table 5)
POPULARITY OF PARTY LEADERS AND SATISFACTION WITH THE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT
In terms of the popularity of provincial leaders, 65% of Quebecers approve of Lucien Bouchard's performance (an increase of 7% compared with December 1997), 39% approve of Daniel Johnson's performance (unchanged since December 1997), while 56% of Quebecers have a favourable perception of Mario Dumont's work (a decrease of 6% since December 1997). (See Table 6)
Lastly, 60% of Quebecers say they are satisfied with the work done by their provincial government. This represents an increase of 11% since December 1997, while 39% are dissatisfied with the performance of the Bouchard government. (See Table 7)
This survey by the Angus Reid Group was conducted between February 23rd and March 1st, 1998. A group of 1,000 Quebecers was surveyed.
The findings are statistically representative of the geographical, linguistic, and demographic distribution of the Quebec population.
The overall margin of error for a sample of this size is ±3.1%, 19 times out of 20.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Christian Bourque, Senior Research Director
(514) 877-5550
Bob Richardson, Senior Vice President
(416) 324-8901
Angus Reid Group
Montreal (514) 877-5550
Toronto (416) 324-2900
