SES Research Poll - Comfort with Harper Majority - Support/Opposition to Election Call

Who said money can't buy you love albeit temporary, Harper has moved a long way to solve the real or perceived fiscal imbalance and Quebec has responded positively. You can't blame Quebec for showing appreciation for this, it has been a long standing thorn that was never acknowledged by the Liberals. Harper's paying attention.

As for an election, I support having one to get a majority Government in place.

The truth of the matter is the minority Government situation is not working as well as some would have us beleive, you don't have to watch "Question Period" everyday to know this, its uniquely poisonous on parliament hill and everyone shares the blame, everyone.

You have the Liberal party who actually really do beleive in thier minds that they and they alone can govern the country due to thier long term majorities, and the Conservatives who have finally got to the top of the mountain are absolutely and intensely protective of their new found fortunes. This hightened degree of desparation between the two parties is both amazing and pathetic to watch.

I personally would like to see a majority Conservative Government get a chance to govern without having to always worry about being tossed out on a day to day basis. Its like having a job where every morning your boss sits you down and says if you screw anything up today your gone! Tough to do your best work under these conditions.

They deserve the chance to sink or swim, just like the rest of us.

The polls are consistent and that is Mr. Harper is accepted by the Canadian people and will win a majority with the next election. The poll is really inconclusive as to what way Canadians are leaning given the key %' ages are within the margin of error. The one thing we do know is that Mr. Harper is being accepted in Quebec and that will not change. I think Quebecers understand that there is a prime minister who wants to tend to his own business and let the provinces look after their areas of jurisdiction. That doesn't mean the federal government wants to be head waiter to the provinces but recognizes and respects the powers given under the constitution to the various levels of government. In the meantime Dion is imploding with some 17 out of 100 MPs deciding to "retire" from politics. The party is in dissaray and Canadians are rejecting Dion and his enviroevangelist propaganda which will destroy the economy of the country. The Liberals still have not accepted the fact that Canadians rejected the Liberal national daycare program and the Kelowna Accord. If money was the problem with aboriginals the issues would have been solved a long time ago. If provinces want daycare then pay for it themselves with the citizens of that province determining whether the provincial government is doing a good enough job in creating daycare spaces. That is the problem with the Liberal vision. People do not know who to hold accountable for failed policies. It is time that the country return to majority government and allow Mr. Harper to introduce his view of federalism and put an end the separatist threats in Quebec.

Ans. # 1. I support.
Ans, # 2. yes.

Two reasons why I want an election. One is to see exactly where Canadians stand. An election is the only poll I believe in. Two, Harper may get defeated. That's maybe very remote even with a little hope it's worth a try.If Canadians don't see it that way, so be it. I've lived with bad governments. I'm used to it. Even a minority Harper government won't be the end of the world
It's not that I'm against a Conservative government. It's I'm against THIS Conservative government.
I have already explained why I think Harper will call an election. He is too anxious to get absolute power and he is too impatient, and he knows how things can change over a period of time. I don't think he has the self discipline to resist.
I've just read holinm and Regina Beach Boy and except for the first line of Beach Boy's I cannot agree with anything either one said.
A minority is more decent, truthful and honest and adhers more closely to the wishes of the people. Majorities don't because they don't have, until just before the next election.
If a government screws up it should be gone, immediately. That's only a concern when they do wrong. But if they did what the people wanted they would not have to worry about that.

I don't have faith in my prophetic abilities to predict what the outcome may be.
I don't know a word of French so I have only limited knowledge how things play out in Quebec.I can't hear the French broadcasts or read the French papers. One has to be careful when Anglos speak or write about Quebec However some of them especially if they live in Quebec can give some indication of the Quebec political scene and of course there are French speakers and writers who give their opinions in English.
I really question the numbers for Quebec Harper support. If they are true I would be very surprised if they would stay that high during an election campaign. I can't see Quebec support for Harper on two important issues, the environment and Afghanistan and if they were so upset with the Liberals trying to buy their votes why would they not be so with Harper doing the same thing.
We don't want ten countries (or 13). It's time to grow up change the constitution and put the important common jurisdictions into the hands of a Federal government. In things like health, education, social services, ect. should be in the hands of Ottawa so they could basic level for all Canadians. And therefore be accountable for them. The provinces should stick to local issues and anything they want to do above the basic-platform-for-all.

holinm Name the 17 who are to retire.

Nik, I believe it is all a perception of "what is the profile of the alternative". The two recent American elections did not seem to offer an outstanding choice thus a rather indecisive result. I recall Diefenbaker, the windbag, came to power without Quebec support, sunk the Avro Arrow and looked for a conspirator behind every pillar in parliament and made any alternative look good and thus it was. Mulroney was not all bad but he managed to make anybody look good in comparison-----the unheard of defeat of his party will be a classic for Canadian history books. At the moment, the Canadian electorate are looking at their choices should there be an election but, the electorate can be fickle, quite punitive and , at times, move like quick silver.

I don’t support an election at this time because we don’t need one and, as other polls generally show, the majority of Canadians don’t want one! Election timing should not be based on polls. That’s why we need fixed elections so politicians can’t manipulate voting dates for their opportunistic and self-serving pursuit of power. Elections are expensive, $277.8 million for June 2004 election, not to mention the vote-buying spending spree that goes with them! Think of the cost of three elections in three years!

Besides, I think many Canadians are still trying to figure out how this “New” government is different.

- They broke that promise on the very first day with appointments of unelected Tory Michael Fortier to the Senate and Liberal turncoat David Emerson to Cabinet.
- They pledged to be fiscally responsible but broke that promise by increased spending of $24.4 billion in their first two budgets. According to a Canadian Taxpayers Federation Press Release on March 30, 2007, “In the 2006 fiscal year — the first year of Mr. Flaherty’s watch — spending ballooned by $13.8-billion, rising from $175.2-billion to $189.0-billion. This is the second biggest jump since the budget was balanced a decade ago. In other words, several Liberal budgets were more prudent than Mr. Flaherty’s work. The outlook isn’t much better for the coming fiscal with spending set to jump another $10.6-billion, levelling off at $199.6-billion.”
- They pledged not to tax Income Trusts but broke that promise in election year and left seniors, who took them at their word, with large retirement savings losses.
- They pledged improved Patient Wait Times and sick people are still waiting. No amount of political spin could make that recent mock-up come close to the promise made “to ensure that all Canadians receive essential medical treatment within clinically acceptable waiting times, or can be treated in another jurisdiction.”
- Transparency has become opaque.

The Tories have morphed into “Liberals in Blue Suits”.

In 2006, Canadians were desperate for change and believed them when they said they were going to be different. They’re frantically looking for an excuse to call an election before we catch on, déjà vu, “Liberal, Tory, same old story”. We don’t need an election and the “Pants on Fire” Tories don’t deserve a majority!

Abraham Lincoln (attributed) said it well, "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you can't fool all the people all of the time."

Nik I take exception to the question in 3 sections of your poll, in my view slanting the results by pre-disposing respondents to judge the PM in a negative light. In 3 cases you asked a question beginning with the sentence 'As you may know there is a chance Prime Minister Stephen Harper may call an election'.

I dispute that this is so, and by framing your question in this way, beginning with this premise, the poll results could be flawed. You are placing Mr Harper as the 'bad guy' who will cynically call an election. You do not place opposition parties in any such negative light.

I do not know, in fact in my opinion am sure it is not so, that Stephen Harper may call an election soon. There is a chance that the opposition parties may call an election soon by defeating PM Harper on a confidence vote.

PM Harper has stated many times that he likes to govern, that he doesn't want an early election, and that if his government is allowed 'room to move' (my words) so that his bills can be passed generally intact he will be pleased to remain in office under a minority government. I think he has clearly shown his willingness to compromise on issues, to accept the input of opposition parties - but that he is not willing to have his bills gutted to the point that they are meaningless.

Your main question 'Would you be comfortable -- etc -- etc with the Stephen Harper-led Conservative government potentially winning and forming a majority government' is an honest question, based upon the premise that the Harper government is a minority one. There's nothing wrong with that - it is only fact.

In all of Canada, it appears, at this time, that 54% of respondents are comfortable; 42% uncomfortable with the thought that PM Harper may lead a majority government. I believe these numbers alone show that PM Harper will lead a majority government, whether sooner or later. I know that polls show 'a moment in time' and results can change - in my opinion, given the PM's leadership qualities, basic honesty in dealing with issues, intellect and resolve, these numbers will only increase in his favour.

While I would not vote against the Harper Government were an election to be announced, I don't particularly want one in 2007.

As someone who supports changing our voting system from first-past-the-post to some form of PR - I personally prefer STV, despite the complexity, because it weakens party control instead of strengthening it as things like MMPR do - I am quite comfortable with minority government; it would be the new normal, and with more for governments to work with than the current system gives us with our multi-way Parliaments.

But again - given my choice, no election this year.

Hello Nik,
All I can say Nik, is give them time!
bloss

Hello Nik - yeah gad!...For all of those despondent with politics I never thought that I would
be promoting another Republican/Austrian/star/terminator...you guessed it! Arnold
Shwartzenegger, I know that when he became unpopular with the present president, that
he started adopting Democratic policies for his state of California, and was quite dubious
about this turn-around. I suspect, Nik, that you have probably met him during your career?
Well, this is my kind of politics, and put aside the political parties, but "solve the problems".
What our Country needs, is an Arnold - the US is even thinking of changing its Constitution
to help Governor Schwarzkenegger get a chance at the Presidency!!! Unthought of:
After listening to Arnold, I would jump at the occasion to vote for him...He and Governor
of N.Y. State, are going to work at instituting networks/teams that have proved themselves,
(ex. infrastructures) and sharing for progress in their respective States. From the
Environment and business innovations to health-care for all in his State, Arnold has the
approval of 2/3 of his population. Doesn't matter which side your on, you are still going
to get the benefits for all!!! Now that's the kind of dynamism that I am looking for, and getting
everybody linked towards the future - priority Education! Not a dig Nik, however, Arnold
has had his polling days in holywood, but no longer cares about this in politics. As long as he
is doing what is right for his State and his people, there he goes!!! That's what I want to
see for my Country, and can be just as passionate as he can be. Sometimes, I feel as though
we are all the living-dead, but tonight I sure saw what goals and attitudes can bring about
and the changes that we are all looking for. I am starting to recognize the old American
mentality which I knew so well, and so loved! When are we Canadians going to wake-up
and demand the same attention that we deserve, and get our own politicians to listen?- as Arnold
so well articulated; I am a public servant, and want to give back to the people of my
Country who did so much for me? Since you have, many of you, blogged with me, and so
very nicely, I just thought that I would try to inspire us all, just as Arnold has done for me.
We need more spirit in this Country, and more togetherness Creativity just does not lie
across the Border, but everywhere, and I surely hope that we shall adhere to this principle.
We elect officials, in our Democratic society, to do what we can not do for ourselves, and
they must always be reminded of this. We just don't vote for anyone because we are
disatisfied with the system, but as bas 1809 suggested tonight, because we are enthusiastic
about our candidates, and we believe/trust them.
Nik, wish you could ask the right questions about what people feel, think, want in your polls,
with definite/direct questions and issues, and as Ken also suggested, not leading questions
that determine the outcome. All the same, thanks for the priveledge of being able to blog!
bloss

Wether the Feds call an election or not, most of Canada is not in the mood to go to the polls again!! Myself personally, I would go in a minute if it meant that Harper would win a majority. This battle in the House is starting to rub me the wrong way. Everyday we see the Liberals trying to create scandals with the Tories. This is really taking away from the work that has to be done in the House. Liberals not in power is still till this day rubbing them hard. Dion is definately not PM material and never will be. Regardless of what the polls say, Harper should fold the government and go to the polls. Just to say you read it first on Nik on the numbers, my opinion is that in the next election, the Tories will come out with a thin majority, the NDP will be down to 17 seats, Liberals will have 86 seats, and the Greens will in my guesstimation will have 6 seats. Now on with the election to see if I am right.