The first night of tracking since the plagiarism issue hit the campaign shows no initial significant impact on Conservative ballot support. The Tories still maintain a ten point margin over the Liberals. It may take a few days to understand the true impact, if any, of the plagiarism story and the effect it will have on the dynamic of this week’s leadership debates.
Of note, Harper’s trust advantage has eroded in the last two nights. For most of the campaign Harper has had a significant advantage over the other federal leaders on trust, competence and vision. Although, Harper has retained his advantage on competence and vision, perceptions related to trust have eroded and there is now a statistical tie between Harper, Layton and Dion on the daily CPAC-Nanos trust measure. Also of note, Layton’s daily leadership score dropped yesterday, likely a result of the focus on the Conservatives and the Liberals.
Tune in to an early edition of Prime Time Politics with Peter Van Dusen tonight at 6 pm (EST) on CPAC for a discussion of our latest polling results. For more detailed information on the methodology and the statistical results visit the Nanos Research website at Nanos Research or chat about our polls on Nik’s blog at Nik on the Numbers.
Methodology and Results
A national random telephone survey is conducted nightly by Nanos Research throughout the campaign. Each evening a new group of 400 eligible voters is interviewed. The daily tracking figures are based on a three-day rolling sample comprised of 1,200 interviews. To update the tracking, a new day of interviewing is added and the oldest day dropped. The margin of accuracy is ±2.8%, 19 times out of 20 for 1,200 random interviews.
The numbers in parenthesis denote the change from the previous Nanos Research Survey completed on September 29, 2008.
Question: If a FEDERAL election were held today, could you please rank your top two current local voting preferences? (First ranked reported)
Committed Voters - Canada (N=1,065, MoE ± 3.0%, 19 times out of 20)
- Conservative Party 36 (-1)
- Liberal Party 26 (NC)
- NDP 20 (NC)
- BQ 10% (NC)
- Green Party 9% (+1)
- Undecided 11% (-1)
Question: Of the following individuals, who do you think would make the best Prime Minister? [Rotate] (N=1,202,MoE ± 2.8%, 19 times out of 20)
- Conservative leader Stephen Harper 35% (-1)
- NDP leader Jack Layton 18% (NC)
- Liberal leader Stephane Dion 15% (NC)
- Green Party leader Elizabeth May 5% (NC)
- Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe 5% (+1)
- None of them 8% (+1)
- Unsure 15% (-1)
Question: Which of the federal leaders would you best describe as:
The most trustworthy leader
The most competent leader
The leader with the best vision for Canada’s future
[Leadership Index Score - Daily roll-up of all three measures]
- Stephen Harper 92 (+3)
- Stephane Dion 53 (+10)
- Jack Layton 49 (-10)
- Gilles Duceppe 19 (+3)
- Elizabeth May 18 (-2)
What do you think?
Cheers, NJN
Remember to rate the views of others - to allow us to recognize the opinion leaders in our national conversation.
Individuals with the top ratings make it to Nik’s Leaderboard
Most Read Comments
Highest Rated Comments
I'm encouraged by fact Canadians did not fall for the newest Liberal hack,slash ... more
Regina Beach Boy (Saskatchewan) 01 Oct 14:22
I have not been making any comments since the start of the daily polls.,... more
Bernie (Ontario) 01 Oct 14:31
This sounds like a Western Canada love-in on this board. Are you saying Regina ... more
HoldenCaulfield (Ontario) 01 Oct 14:55
They never would have balanced the budget if Preston manning hadn't held their f... more
Lex Llewdor (British Columbia) 01 Oct 19:13
The Liberals would be most likely to get us into foreign wars, like they did in ... more
westerner (suspended) (Alberta) 01 Oct 19:18
And Iraq. Remember - we had troops in Iraq before the 2006 election.... more
Lex Llewdor (British Columbia) 01 Oct 19:19
Comments
Regina Beach Boy
I'm encouraged by fact Canadians did not fall for the newest Liberal hack,slash and Gotchya job by the Bob Rae. I guess Canadians are above these gutter politics and would prefer to talk about the Issues, like the loomong financial nightmare next door, our economy, jobs, and the enviornment.
How novel is that!!
[updated Wed Oct 01 14:22:37 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 14:22
22 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
psiclone
Hey Nick! What I am fascinated by is how well the NDP are doing this election and if unlike last election where startegic voters went Libera : I have a question is it possible what with all the 3 way races, the strategic voters and if Jack does well during the debates then add a few more undecideds : could the NDP possibly become the official opposition?
[updated Wed Oct 01 14:23:42 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 14:23
7 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
westerner (suspended)
Jack Layton took a hit on the leadership index. Wonder if that is the result of his big spending announcements just when the markets took a dive?
[updated Wed Oct 01 14:26:06 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 14:26
8 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
Bernie
I have not been making any comments since the start of the daily polls., since I am not interested in them. The Oct. !4 poll is the only real one.
And all I read here is partisan BS. and personal invective. Neither of which holds any interest to me.
I may watch the "debates" as they are called. Normally I don't but I want to see how Ms May conducts herself and the reaction of the other leaders to her.
It won't make any difference whom I vote for. My mind is made up as soon as the writ is dropped. I don't understand why anyone would be undecided.
I keep abreast of politics all along and so campaigns have no influence on my voting.
I could never vote for the destructive policies of the Harper government. I know how bad he is.
I don't see the policies on any of the other parties having any negative effect on us.
It's just that they don't do enough positive things to make this country what it could be.
Ms. May's voice needs to be heard in parliament so I will vote for her.
[updated Wed Oct 01 14:31:52 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 14:31
21 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
HoldenCaulfield
This sounds like a Western Canada love-in on this board. Are you saying Regina Beach Boy that you find it acceptable for Stephen Harper to stand in the House of Commons and argue that the Nation ought to go to war in Iraq, using someone else's words? As Rae rightly pointed out when a leader is making such an argument it is incumbent upon him to find his own words or the words of his own Nation, not those of the Bush coalition.
Bob Rae and the Liberals were correct to point this out.
[updated Wed Oct 01 14:55:58 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 14:55
64 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
fortescue
I must have missed an interesting night on the blog!!
MBAGS=Banned
Rsharp=Banned
TPQ=Banned
Do they still get to vote!!
[updated Wed Oct 01 15:28:26 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 15:28
11 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
HoldenCaulfield
Although I am not a polling expert please allow me to add my very unscientific musings to this thread. I would not give up on the Liberal brand in this election and this is why.
Although the Liberals are hovering around 26 percent, the Conservatives seem to be stuck in the high 30’s. I predict that the Conservatives National numbers are artificially inflated because of their adoring fans in the oil patch. Their dumber than dumb comments last week about culture, combined with their get tough on Youth Crime tripe works well out in oil country but it has cost them dearly in Quebec, where they had hoped to make gains.
The conservatives ongoing gaffes will cost them in Quebec and the Bloc will benefit.
If they cannot contain their members or if anyone cares to use their memory and remember who makes up the new Conservative Party, then they may lose some votes in urban Ontario on issues of intolerance towards minorities.
In Eastern Canada, the Liberals are doing better, I’m sure helped by Premier Danny Williams and his Progressive Conservative Cabinet who have declared war on the Federal (Reform) Conservatives.
My guess is that the Conservatives will not win a Majority. I think they will win another Minority but no Majority. I also predict that as we get closer to October 14th and it becomes clearer that they will not win a Majority that Harper will have more and more trouble containing the vocal and large redneck fringe in this party that has gotten him into hot water in the past.
Before this election is over, someone just may remember that Stephen Harper was the guy who said that Alberta ought to build firewalls around itself to protect it from the rest of Canada, which he described as content to be a “second tier socialistic-country”
Holden
[updated Wed Oct 01 15:30:55 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 15:30
48 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
Agreed.
[updated Wed Oct 01 15:46:49 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 15:46
psiclone
I disagree as the dynamic are completely different this time speaking as a former Liberal and living out west here on Vancouver Island I am witnessing something I never thought would happen. The Liberal Party is actually collapsing out here and they are phoning it in and disaffected members are going to the NDP big time local numbers are mind boggling and never seen before I think that there are going to be alot of very surprised eastern voters come Oct. 14 and that is for sure.
[updated Wed Oct 01 16:01:33 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 16:01
HoldenCaulfield
Yes so they elect New Democrats in BC, that's fine they aren't running to the Conservatives however.
[updated Wed Oct 01 16:22:45 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 16:22
Lex Llewdor
No, but with the plethora of three-way races in the province, projecting seats is a fool's errand.
[updated Wed Oct 01 19:11:19 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 19:11
Craig
You are mistaken Holden, because Conservative support is higher in almost every region of the country, not just due to the "adoring fans in the oil patch".
Except for Quebec where the BQ is outpolling and outside of Atlantic Canada where there is a statistical tie.
[updated Wed Oct 01 15:58:52 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 15:58
HoldenCaulfield
Yes no doubt their support is up, but the election is not over yet and they can't keep their dogs caged through the entire campaign, a few good ole boys have already spoken out and there will be more. As the heat is turned up more gaffes will come.
Even with the increased numbers they are polling a Conservative Party will not form a Majority with 36 or 37 percent of the vote, especially since it is so concentrated in the West. They may do better, the Liberals may do worse, but a Majority? I think not!
[updated Wed Oct 01 16:25:21 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 16:25
Candidates running in the ridings are not dogs. Please show respect for the users of this site and the people vying for political office.
[updated Wed Oct 01 17:46:36 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 17:46
HoldenCaulfield
Informed 1
I notice that you have appointed yourself the politeness cop on the site.
Hmm Let me see some of the things that the Conservative Candidates have said in the not so recent past:
- Myron Thompson said that it would be okay for employers to force gays or blacks to work at the back of the store if they thought to do otherwise would be bad for business.
- Stockwell Day said that he refused to send condolences to the family of Yasar Arafat in his role, because there had been a rumour that he died of AIDS.
The list goes on and on my friend. Just this election another enlightened soul from the Conservatives blamed crime on Minorities.
So you can call them what you want, but as long as you support the Conservatives please do not school me in how to conduct myself thank you.
[updated Wed Oct 01 21:38:43 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 21:38
I have asked users to respect other users of this site. If you demean people or belittle their opinions it does not further debate.
If you want to provide quotes, blog, clips of gaffes or tasteless jokes for purposes of spin or to destroy debate than please try another forum.
I am not interested in your comments above. They add nothing to the upcoming vote on polices, platform.
Goodluck to your party.
[updated Wed Oct 01 22:13:29 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 22:13
TPQ1
The cons got off to a fast start and are now hovering or losing ground in most places that count. They will actually lose 2 to 3 seats in Quebec and possibly in Ontario. two cabinet ministers fortier and Blackburn will go down. The libs will go up by as much as ten seats and as few as three more seats but will go up.
[updated Wed Oct 01 18:23:18 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 18:23
That is funny. We will ignore all 500 polls to date and data sets cause we "wish upon a star".
Your analysis is based on? Link your sources please, I need a good laugh.
[updated Thu Oct 02 10:35:52 EDT 2008]
02 Oct 10:35
TorontoCrawler
Read the detailed polls that come out on Thursdays - Conservatives are up in Ontario and will win more seats than last time.
I'm one of your described "minorities" who you claim to represent - guess what, a lot of us are voting Conservative because these non-stop Liberal smears of Conservatives being intolerant towards minorities is a load of BS.
Liberals are just a lot of talk and grandstanding when it comes to equality but no action - the Conservatives are the one who apologized for the Chinese Head Tax and have been implementing policies that help hard-working individuals and small business owners, many of whom are minorities, in our day to day lives.
The fawning amongst immigrants during the Trudeau era for the Liberals may be holding amongst that generation for some strange reason, but he's been out of power since 1984 - everyone who has immigrated since then does not perform the same "sheep like" fawning of that man or his party.
[updated Wed Oct 01 16:05:45 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 16:05
HoldenCaulfield
Yes I can understand buddy why you would hold Trudeau up to ridicule, he only brought us the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, that hasn't helped any minorities along the way has it?
Give me a break.
[updated Wed Oct 01 16:26:48 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 16:26
TorontoCrawler
Charter of Rights and Freedoms <eyes rolling> - uh, yeah, like I said, more recent immigrants don't have this fawning over Trudeau or his Charter (which IMHO has resulted in giving unelected judges more power to impose "political correctness" and defy the will of common sense more than anything else).
Your response doesn't cancel out my earlier statement that Liberals can no longer count on minorities for their votes. Like everyone else, major issue amongst my friends and family is the economy, not some BS about "rights" that Liberals just try to spit out for political correctness and to pretend they're on "our side".
[updated Wed Oct 01 16:45:58 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 16:45
HoldenCaulfield
Yes the Economy, you mean how the Liberals cleaned up the waste of the Mulroney years and put us in surplus year after year for a decade, and how Harper has run us back to the edge of deficit in 2 years?
[updated Wed Oct 01 16:49:27 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 16:49
TorontoCrawler
As far as I'm concerned, surplus is another word for overtaxation. A $15 billion surplus is nothing to be proud of.
A $3 billion surplus leaves enough of a buffer for rainy days without screwing taxpayers.
[updated Wed Oct 01 16:51:47 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 16:51
hardripples
If there was no $15BB "surplus" the national debt we inherited from Mulroney would never got paid down. The cons used the liberal "surplus" to pay dow debt as soon as they were elected
[updated Wed Oct 01 21:11:34 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 21:11
Actually the surplus is our taxes they collected and did not spend.
So I would thank you to understand where the "surplus" actually comes from.
The Liberal Party would under report for years the surplus and set up several "rainy" day accounts for projects.
Working families are better off with lower taxes and less government waste.
I would like to see more cutting from each level of government.
The liberals did some nice fiscal tightening when they were in a majority.
[updated Wed Oct 01 22:25:00 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 22:25
Check the update for the gov't projections so your contention of deficit is incorrect.Go to the government website.
http://www.canadianeconomy.gc.ca/english/economy/index.cfm#top
Do you care to double check your facts and retract that statement?
[updated Wed Oct 01 18:05:33 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 18:05
TorontoCrawler
Huh? I’m not sure what it was that you were trying to point out on that URL you posted.
But this came out a few days ago though from another government website, the Department of Finance (http://www.fin.gc.ca/FISCMON/2008-07e.html) states that there was a $2.9 billion surplus for the first 4 months of the current fiscal year (April-July 2008).
It feels like you’re arguing now just for the sake of arguing. Bored now...
[updated Wed Oct 01 20:01:10 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 20:01
You said the government is running or on edge of a deficit. I gave you the link for the government website. The facts say otherwise.
http://www.canadianeconomy.gc.ca/english/economy/index.cfm
[updated Wed Oct 01 21:56:15 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 21:56
hardripples
Flaherty lied once before about a deficit..cooking the books is his speciality
[updated Wed Oct 01 22:13:20 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 22:13
So are you suggesting the Minister of Finance is subverting the civil service to provide false numbers on the government website?
Make up your mind either answer the question, retract your statement about the deficit.
Choose one.
[updated Wed Oct 01 22:16:35 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 22:16
hardripples
I don't have to retract anything. I simply believe harper and Flaherty would cook the books if a deficit was here now.
[updated Wed Oct 01 22:19:29 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 22:19
The funny thing what you wish to believe and the reality are two very different things fortunately.
Goodluck with your party and go vote!
[updated Wed Oct 01 22:29:01 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 22:29
TorontoCrawler
Okay (although I still don't really see it on that link you wrote)... were you replying to me or the original poster? I know we're in a surplus position, the other guy (Holden) is the one saying we're in a deficit.
[updated Thu Oct 02 08:13:48 EDT 2008]
02 Oct 08:13
If I made a mistake linking you in a thread please disregard.
[updated Thu Oct 02 08:37:02 EDT 2008]
02 Oct 08:37
TorontoCrawler
Oh sorry Informed1, I thought you were the original poster who started this thread - disregard my last paragraph in my first response, that wouldn't have been directed at you (I thought your post was from Holden continue to argue even though it was totally unrelated to his original post)
[updated Wed Oct 01 20:13:57 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 20:13
oops already replied lol
[updated Wed Oct 01 21:56:44 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 21:56
HoldenCaulfield
Yes because the Conservative Government is the best place to get the facts right?
[updated Wed Oct 01 21:39:43 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 21:39
Are you suggesting the website address is a fake or that the staff who work for the government are lying?
I dont understand your comments. If this was a link to the party site, fine but do you suggest it is not accurate?
I am going to enjoy your rebuttal.
[updated Wed Oct 01 22:02:43 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 22:02
Lex Llewdor
They never would have balanced the budget if Preston manning hadn't held their feet to the fire.
And then in response to the rise of the Bloc, Stephen Harpoer wrote the Clarity Act, and Chrétien passed that, too.
A lot of Liberal policy was Reform policy.
[updated Wed Oct 01 19:13:16 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 19:13
Lex Llewdor
The Charter. A worse written piece of law I have never seen.
[updated Wed Oct 01 19:12:09 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 19:12
HoldenCaulfield
Yes it is pesky, I know that Myron and the gang hate the way it gets in the way of random acts of discrimination by employers, but hey!
[updated Wed Oct 01 21:40:41 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 21:40
TPQ1
Toronto crawler..it's funny you say that when Justin Trudeau will win his Montreal seat due to immigrant votes. I think you under rate the appeal most immigrants have towards the Libs.
[updated Wed Oct 01 18:25:39 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 18:25
TorontoCrawler
I'm sure for that riding it is true, and I'm sure there are other pockets here and there - I'm well aware of people who immigrated pre-1984 and possibly their first generation of children below them who tilt towards the Libs. If I understand the Papineau riding correctly, it's populated with people who would fit that time period description.
But for people in my age group who came after 1984 (or even people I know that came pre-1968 and whose descendents now are 3rd generation or later), they have no special affinity or loyalty towards the Trudeaus or Liberals, many came in during the Mulroney years. I know people who've supported all parties at one point or another, and who has switched parties as the winds blow.
[updated Wed Oct 01 19:47:29 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 19:47
Either you accept the CPC is a tight well run machine with good inside polling or you believe it is disorganized.
I believe it to be the first. Tactic: Weaken Liberals in strongholds: urban centres where we place third. How do you do that? Fire up the Bloc, did it work? Look at the results who went up and who went down who will lose seats in Quebec? Also Clarity Bill -listen for that from Duceppe.
I dont think they will gain in Quebec but I think the big losses will be the Federal votes in urban centres and the Bloc are a protest vote to Federalism.
I give CPC credit for helping the Bloc/NDP reduce Liberal support in ridings they could not win- that is what that gaffe did. Neither the Bloc/NDP can form a government.
ABC is not working as intended NL don't like bullies, they are a proud people.
I suspect PEI will not go 4 Liberals again. They have the highest % turn out and can see 1 seat shifting.
Now in Ontario urban centres crime and perception of the soft on crime parties is "real" so that will bleed more voters from the liberals.
Green Shift (DOA) is neutral to the "government". not the taxpayer.
The government is not voting on October 14, 2008.
Do you think working families want to pay more for everyday expenses to get a little of relief through income tax? Im not sure if you have a budget but an additional 7% is not in the books of most families to absorb. Where Carbon is implemented like BC they have dropped the liberal support and will be liberal free.
Jack is hitting hard the soft left votes and will bleed more so where the CPC were close 2nd they will gain seats. I dont see any pool where liberals support is actually trending positively. ( 1 Poll or 1 News Article does not make a trend.)
I still wish Dion and his supporters well and look forward to some more of your analysis.
Boomers will vote and Gen-Y won't. Look up the social values of the boomers vs the Gen-Y and see what party platform is geared toward whom.
More importantly Liberal Majority in Ontario brings the opposite to Ottawa.
[updated Wed Oct 01 16:28:44 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 16:28
HoldenCaulfield
Informed1, I'm one of those former New Democrats who now call the Liberal Party home. You folks on the right underestimate how fearful progressives are of Harper's Reformers. We did not fear the Progressive Conservatives of Clark, but the Harper Conservative are mean spirted Ideologues, like their Republican cousins in America.
You can believe what you want to about the left of centre vote, but I know as part of that group that many of us moved to the Liberals a long time ago and many more will bleed off the NDP back to the Liberals before this is all over.
[updated Wed Oct 01 16:52:51 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 16:52
Craig
How can you make claims about "mean spirited ideologues" then announce you are a former ND?
Call it socialism or social democracy, but the NDP are completely governed by their unwavering ideology.
How many times do they urge to raise corporate taxes, the rights of the worker/union, and more centralist control?
[updated Wed Oct 01 17:04:03 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 17:04
HoldenCaulfield
I said former Craig, I'm a Liberal now and have been for several years.
[updated Wed Oct 01 17:06:05 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 17:06
Okay. Goodluck with getting the other parties to do strategic voting again.
Will Dion call for them in the debate and acknowledge he can't win but wants to stop a CPC majority?
Jack has improved his % in popular vote over the liberal leader for the first time. If he asks for Dions Job (he can't actually get it) he may reduce that strategic vote.
I would not be pinning my hopes on May supporting that idea this time around, it will be the end of the greens. They are bleeding 5-10% off the liberals as the NDP are in tight races.
[updated Wed Oct 01 18:13:49 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 18:13
HoldenCaulfield
The end of the Greens would be a good thing, the left side of the field is too crowded.
[updated Wed Oct 01 21:41:53 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 21:41
I disagree, more parties to the left allow for more voters to participate in this upcoming election.
May claims to have the Gen-Y demographic I wish her well, they normally don't show up.
[updated Wed Oct 01 22:18:25 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 22:18
HoldenCaulfield
Yes and from your comments on the threads it allows for the Conservatives to continue to win elections while the progressives split the vote, I can see why this works for you.
Could I suggest that perhaps we bring back the Progressive Conservative Party and the Reform Party also?
[updated Wed Oct 01 22:56:33 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 22:56
I don't control the composition of parties and if new right wing parties were to form I would not care. Lesson learned by the right of centre and now its time for the left of centre to form one party. Goodluck.
I did not whine, jump up and down, claiming the end of the world when Chretien used that strategy against the right wing fracture to his advantage.
Each party is to blame not the voters for providing options.
I would love to see some smaller parties who feel they have no voice at both spectrum far left and far right have seats in the HOC, you may claim they exist but I dont.
Goodluck with your party and the call to unite the left again this October.
[updated Thu Oct 02 07:41:43 EDT 2008]
02 Oct 07:41
User1
My prediction is if Harper looses he will ;probably seek Alberta's independence and we will then have 2 Blocs in the house.
[updated Thu Oct 02 11:23:08 EDT 2008]
02 Oct 11:23
HoldenCaulfield
A Liberal NDP Minority Coalition would be so sweet; the best part of it would be watching the Western Conservatives' heads explode with anger. Alas, I'm a realist, that is not going to happen this time around, but if we can hold them to a Minority, then in 18 months or 2 years we can kick them to the curb.
[updated Thu Oct 02 13:53:50 EDT 2008]
02 Oct 13:53
User1
If it has to happen it must be here and now
[updated Thu Oct 02 14:11:50 EDT 2008]
02 Oct 14:11
rsharp1
Listen to this. It's a hoot.
http://www.236.com/blog/w/lee_camp/mccains_voice_mail_to_palin_le_8644.php
[updated Wed Oct 01 17:17:18 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 17:17
1 reply so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
rsharp1
And this.
http://www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm
[updated Wed Oct 01 17:19:02 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 17:19
1 reply so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
Van Centre
"he first night of tracking since the plagiarism issue hit the campaign shows no initial significant impact on Conservative ballot support."
I'm curious why, every day, you attempt to causally relate some minor campaign issue with movements in the tracking poll. How many Canadians actually follow the campaign that closely? Very few, I expect.
Polls aren't going up and down because Stephane Dion went to Prince George and not Prince Rupert; because Jack wore a green tie instead of an orange one. In fact, the polls are barely moving at all.
[updated Wed Oct 01 17:22:44 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 17:22
12 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
rsharp1
Far as I can tell I was suspended for this:
Informed1, good advice. I confess to periodic lapses but I keep trying to stay civil. Criticize what is said, not the person saying it. And, when it comes to name-calling, there is a big difference between our fellow bloggers and public figures.
Mr. Harper is mean, vindictive, untrustworthy, small-minded, ideologically crazed, snide, uncaring, obnoxious, arbitrary, all-controlling, incompetent, managerially-challenged, pro-American (no matter), anti-Muslim, pro-business, anti-government, anti-environment, anti-consumer, anti-labour, anti-women......
"But I have no doubt he's a good father. There, I just crossed the line. His private life is his business but, when it comes to Harper's public record, including his record as head of the extreme RW National Citizens Coalition and plaigarized speeches he made years ago supporting Bush's insane Iraq war, all bets are off. I will express my opinions and that includes categorizing/labelling, aka name-calling."
This is called sarcasm. What is disagreeable about that? Even if it is, what is not true? Even if it's not true, in light of my posts (go see), does it warrant a suspension? The humiliation is too much.
k. I can take that. What offends me is the censorship.
[updated Wed Oct 01 17:34:50 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 17:34
11 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
rsharp1
Debating points:
Mr. Harper will you get us into war against faraway countries with the Americans whenever they decide it's time?
Or will you return Canada to its 50-year tradition of peacekeeping.?
[updated Wed Oct 01 17:59:05 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 17:59
30 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
hardripples
I'm watching the french debate and find harper's French to be every bit as bad as Dion's english.
[updated Wed Oct 01 21:17:41 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 21:17
4 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
rsharp 2
Sorry to interrupt the debate. But Nik needs to learn about freedom of speech, methinks. Here is my reply to him on why I got busted:
Well, I feel like I've shamed myself. Apparently because I stated that people who pray to idols are freaks. Sorry. Let me repeat it. People who pray to idols who don't talk back are freaks. Ban me again Nik.
Religious freaks in the States have just about ruined this world. There are centuries of ruination before Bush and his evangelical nuts. What do you need, Nik? A road map?
I admire your polling acumen big-time. But don''t tell me what to say.
My goodness, these same people have no qualms about killing people (when making unjust/immoral wars, the death penalty, etc.), I have no problems with Quakers and their like. These people are rteal Christians.
[updated Wed Oct 01 21:24:36 EDT 2008]
01 Oct 21:24
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Reg
I have been lurking and reading the various comments since Nik started this board. I guess it is time to add the odd comment.
Just so you know, I am a CPC supporter.
In addition to the other boards that various people have pointed to you might also want to check out the election stock market run by the the Sauder School of Business at UBC (esm.ubc.ca). UBC has run this market on a number of elections now and it is quite accurate. Investors are putting up real money (although a maximum of $1,000 so nobody is buying the market and twisting the results) and it has been quite accurate over the years.
[updated Thu Oct 02 11:29:08 EDT 2008]
02 Oct 11:29
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Foxer
Well, the consensus out there seems to be that Harper won the debate, but mostly by default. I doubt the debate shifted a lot of people one way or another, but we'll see. Unfortunately with the debate taking place in the evening we probably will have to wait till tomorrow's polling to see if it had much effect one way or another (and another to see about tonite's debate) but overall i think it's probably going to have minimal effect.
[updated Thu Oct 02 11:40:01 EDT 2008]
02 Oct 11:40
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English Debate Will the Liberal Media air the pre-recorded Dion winning debate newsclips before debate ends?
(Okay just kidding we all know the media is controlled by George Bush and the Hidden Right Wing Agenda.)
Food for thought about the Food Safety in Canada.
Liberal cuts and shift to industry -source (http://www.notaleader.ca/realitycheck/?p=77)
“Ottawa wants to cut the fat from Canada’s food inspection system, Agriculture Minister Ralph Goodale said... Agriculture Canada is looking at ways to shift responsibilities to the industry which could in turn lead to privatization of certain inspection procedures, he said… Millions of dollars could be saved under a self-regulatory system, said Goodale.” (“Grits want to pare food-inspection costs,” Times Colonist, Jul 14, 1994)
Budget 1995 “Program Review” resulted in a 21.5 per cent or $445 million baseline cut to the Agriculture budget, which included the Food Production and Inspection Branch. (Budget 1995, http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget95/fact/FACT_6e.html)
Dr. Art Olson, Assistant Deputy Minister: “The Food Production and Inspection Branch’s operating budget will be reduced by approximately $70 million over the next three years…This means an overall funding reduction of 1,283 full-time equivalent positions.” (Testimony, Standing Committee on Agriculture, May 16, 1995) http://www.parl.gc.ca/35/Archives/committees351/agfo/evidence/59_95-05-16/agfo59_blk101.html
Budget 1995 also undertook “opportunities for privatization” and states: “The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food will share responsibilities and streamline arrangements with industry for inspection and regulation activities.” (Budget 1995, http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget95/fact/FACT_9e.html)
Budget 1996 deepened “Program Review” cuts to a 30.1 per cent or $625 million baseline cut to the Agriculture budget, which included food safety. (Budget 1996, http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget96/bp/bp96e.pdf)
Finance Minister Paul Martin: “Surely we can all agree that it is simply silly for a food processing plant to have a federal meat inspector, a federal health inspector, a federal fish inspector, not to mention a provincial health inspector and a provincial food inspector tripping over themselves on the same day, in the same plant, doing essentially the same thing.” (Budget Speech, Mar 6, 1996, http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget96/speech/speeche.txt)
Budget 2005 “Expenditure Review” further cut $180 million from the Agriculture Department and cut $69 million from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (Budget 2005, http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget05/booklets/bkexpe.htm)
Anyone care to refute those articles or comments from Goodale,Olson,Martin?
[updated Thu Oct 02 12:29:32 EDT 2008]
02 Oct 12:29
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