When the Prime Minister Comes Knocking
Canadians (74%) Say to Governor General Michaelle Jean:
Say Yes To an Election

Toronto, ON -When Governor General Michaelle Jean has a Sunday morning visit from Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking that Parliament be dissolved and the nation be plunged into an election a full majority (74%) want her to say "yes".

To trigger an election, Prime Minister Harper must ask the Governor General, Michaelle Jean, to dissolve Parliament and hold an election. This is usually a formality. But the Governor General does have the power to ignore the Prime Minister's request for an election and ask an opposition party leader to form a government. But it is clear that a full majority of Canadians would prefer that the Governor General follows convention and agrees to an election, as opposed to a minority (26%) who would prefer the Governor General to ignore convention and ask an opposition party leader--such as Liberal leader Stephane Dion--to form the government.

And as to the election campaign itself, and how Canadians say they will decide, to cast their vote? Well, a majority (67%) indicate that they will be voting for a particular party based on their position on the issues as opposed to strategically voting where they will cast their vote in order to stop another party for being elected (33%).

And in this regard, it appears that a majority of the Canadian electorate (57%) are going to be listening more to the party positions on important issues as opposed to the local candidates who are vying to represent them (19%) or simply sizing up what they think of the party leaders (24%).

Say Yes to the Visitor Knocking at the Door ...

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrives at Rideau Hall for a visit with the Governor General, a full majority (74%) want her to accede to his wishes to dissolve Parliament and call the election compared with only a quarter (20%) of Canadians who think that you should ignore convention and ask an opposition party leader to form a government. Throughout the country, the results are as follows:

• British Columbia 64% indicate that the Governor General should accept the Prime Minister a request versus 36% who believe that she should reject it
• Alberta 72% indicate that the Governor General should accept the Prime Minister a request versus 28% who believe that she should reject it
• Saskatchewan/Manitoba 68% indicate that the Governor General should accept the Prime Minister a request versus 32% who believe that she should reject it
• Ontario 68% indicate that the Governor General should accept the Prime Minister a request versus 32% who believe that she should reject it
• Quйbec 67% indicate that the Governor General should accept the Prime Minister a request versus 33% who believe that she should reject it
• Atlantic Canada 63% indicate that the Governor General should accept the Prime Minister a request versus 37% who believe that she should reject it
• Men: 68% indicate that the Governor General should accept the Prime Minister a request versus 32% who believe that she should reject it
• Women: 66% indicate that the Governor General should accept the Prime Minister a request versus 34% who believe that she should reject it

It's about the issues, not some "Secret Square" to block...

And when it comes to making the decision about which party to vote for, a full majority (67%) indicate that they will choose mostly because they support the position of the party on the issues as opposed to using their vote to stop another party from getting elected (33%).

• British Columbia 64% will choose mostly because they support the position of the party on the issues as opposed to 36% using their vote to stop another party from getting elected
• Alberta 72% will choose mostly because they support the position of the party on the issues as opposed to 28% using their vote to stop another party from getting elected
• Saskatchewan/Manitoba 68% will choose mostly because they support the position of the party on the issues as opposed to 32% using their vote to stop another party from getting elected
• Ontario 68% will choose mostly because they support the position of the party on the issues as opposed to 32% using their vote to stop another party from getting elected
• Quйbec67% will choose mostly because they support the position of the party on the issues as opposed to 33% using their vote to stop another party from getting elected
• Atlantic Canada 63% will choose mostly because they support the position of the party on the issues as opposed to 37% using their vote to stop another party from getting elected
• Men: 68% will choose mostly because they support the position of the party on the issues as opposed to 32% using their vote to stop another party from getting elected
• Women: 66% will choose mostly because they support the position of the party on the issues as opposed to 34% using their vote to stop another party from getting elected

And what factor will shape their decision the most? It's Party time...

And when it comes to the factor that will be the most important determining how they will vote, a majority (57%) indicate that they will choose mostly because they support the parties' positions on important issues, compared to their local candidate (19%) or what they think of the party leaders (24%).

• British Columbia 59% are going to be listening more to the parties' positions on important issues as opposed to the local candidates who are vying to represent them 20% or simply sizing up what they think of the party leaders 21%.
• Alberta 58% are going to be listening more to the parties' positions on important issues as opposed to the local candidates who are vying to represent them 14% or simply sizing up what they think of the party leaders 27%.
• Saskatchewan/Manitoba 57% are going to be listening more to the parties' positions on important issues as opposed to the local candidates who are vying to represent them 21% or simply sizing up what they think of the party leaders 22%.
• Ontario 60% are going to be listening more to the parties' positions on important issues as opposed to the local candidates who are vying to represent them 18% or simply sizing up what they think of the party leaders 22%.
• Quйbec 49% are going to be listening more to the parties' positions on important issues as opposed to the local candidates who are vying to represent them 20% or simply sizing up what they think of the party leaders 31%.
• Atlantic Canada 66% are going to be listening more to the parties' positions on important issues as opposed to the local candidates who are vying to represent them 18% or simply sizing up what they think of the party leaders and 16%.
• Men: 56% are going to be listening more to the parties' positions on important issues as opposed to the local candidates who are vying to represent them 20% or simply sizing up what they think of the party leaders 24%
• Women: 58% are going to be listening more to the parties' positions on important issues as opposed to the local candidates who are vying to represent them 18% or simply sizing up what they think of the party leaders 24%.

These are the results of an online survey of 1028 Canadian adults was conducted via the Ipsos I-Say Online Panel, Ipsos Reid's national online panel overnight on September 4, 2008. The results are based on a sample where quota sampling and weighting are employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data. Quota samples with weighting from the Ipsos online panel provide results that are intended to approximate a probability sample. An unweighted probability sample of this size, with a 100% response rate, would have an estimated margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
Dr. Darrell Bricker
President & CEO
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
416-509-8460
[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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