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Clearly, it was not the kind of news they had gone to the Manning Centre to hear, and, it seems, they did not receive it with particular good grace.
As reported in The Star, presenting the results of a poll he conducted in December, André Turcotte imparted the following to party activists Friday:
“For the first time, Liberals have re-emerged as the party that a plurality of Canadians identify with,” ... “Now the Liberals and the Conservatives are tied almost as the party perceived to be the best to deal with the economy. This is a big change from previous years.”
In fact, even that wasn't quite true, given that
31 per cent of Canadians identified with the Liberals, 26 per cent with the Conservatives, 18 per cent with the NDP, and six per cent with the Green party.
Reacting swiftly, his listeners challenged Turcotte, with one asking him if he polled before Trudeau began making his verbal gaffes.
Alas, no solace was to be proffered, the pollster replying that
the shift in attitudes is a trend that actually began to show up two years ago, has now taken hold, and cannot be attributed simply to “the Trudeau effect” with the election last spring of Justin Trudeau as the new federal Liberal party leader.
Rather, Conservative handling of issues such as the economy, health care, unemployment and poverty, ranked in order of respondents' priorities, did not inspire confidence.
Pointedly, Turcotte said he did not probe the issue of crime in any depth,
as it largely shows up only as a concern for the Conservatives’ base. He said it does not broaden support.
And the bad news for the Harperites doesn't stop there. As reported by Susan Delacourt, another poll, this one conducted by Angus Reid, suggests that Canadians are increasingly waking up to the destructive and unhealthy nature of the Harper regime:
Nearly two-thirds of Canadians believe that the ruling Conservatives are settling political scores with their Fair Elections Act.
Even though only 20% of poll respondents admitted to any real knowledge about the act,
62 per cent said the bill was being introduced because “the Conservative government is motivated politically and dislikes Elections Canada.” Among those more well-acquainted with the legislation, that suspicion rises to 69 per cent.
While it is far too early to begin thinking that the Conservative government's electoral defeat is within grasp, it is an encouraging sign that all progressives should work to exploit in every way we can.
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Could it be, Lorne, that the Conservatives fail to understand that they are their own worst enemies?
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope so, Owen, I certainly hope so.
DeleteI'm still wondering, Lorne, whether Harper isn't eyeing a possible snap election in September if the summer break provides him with the now normal recovery in the polls. He's like a caged animal in these situations and, when he's cornered, he'll come out flying if he spots an opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI think the Liberals would be foolish not to campaign hard this summer to keep the pressure on Harper through July and August.
Given Harper's complete contempt for anything remotely resembling fair play, Mound, few things seem beyond the realm of possibility. But one wonders what his pretext for breaking his fixed election date legislation a second time would be.
DeleteQuite frankly until Trudeau repudiates the legislation passed by the Nasty Party in the last five years then he will be the Nasty party too.
ReplyDeleteMany would agree with that assessment, Ben. If, when the election comes, the choices voters are offered are differences in personality and tone, but not substantive policy, there will be little real choice at all.
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