Confidence in Tories eroding

Some suggest that the Prime Minister wants an election now because he is of the view that the results will only get worse for the Conservatives. Perhaps, but remember the Liberals have not been able to capitalize on the economy despite the solid work done by the last two Liberal Prime Ministers (and that good work is not really open to argument). In any event, it will be the economy that drives any fall election. As such we Liberals have to remind the public about how the Liberals turned the economy around and how we can do that again. A strong economy is essential to allow for the other programs the Party wants.


Confidence in Tories eroding: poll
Economy, not environment, now public's top concern
Don Butler , Canwest News Service Published: Wednesday, August 20, 2008
OTTAWA -- As prospects for a fall election grow, a new survey indicates public satisfaction with the Harper government has deteriorated since last fall.

The extensive survey, conducted for the Privy Council Office, found Canadians are split in their judgment of the government's performance, with 34% positive and 35% negative. The rest are neutral.

In the previous Harris/Decima survey in December 2007, 35% expressed satisfaction with the government's performance, while 30% gave it thumbs down.

The survey of 4,472 Canadians, conducted in June, also found that the economy has supplanted the environment as the public's top concern, largely due to high energy prices.

The $92,000 poll is the latest in a series of tracking surveys commissioned by the PCO to measure Canadians' views on key issues and policy initiatives. Data tables from the survey were released on a government website recently.

The results offer scant encouragement to a Conservative government that nonetheless seems eager to trigger an election this fall. In nearly every policy area, the public mood is noticeably more sour than it was late last year.

Asked to rate the government's performance in nearly two dozen areas, those surveyed gave it failing marks in nine, passing grades in eight and were divided on five others.

Satisfaction is greatest in areas of traditional Conservative strength, including defence, national security, international relations, managing the economy and protecting Canadians from unsafe products and food.

It's lowest when Canadians are asked about the government's handling of the environment and climate change, health care, immigration, unemployment, federal-provincial relations, assisting rural communities and improving infrastructure.

The government gets some of its worst marks for accountability, a supposed priority area, with just 28% positive and 42% negative. Only on climate change is its performance more harshly judged.

Full story here:

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=737547