January 3, 2010
Canadians Divided over Proroguing
Parliament a Year Ago, but Indifferent
This Time
The latest Canadian Press/Harris Decima survey asked Canadians about the
prorogation of Parliament.
According to Senior Vice-President Doug Anderson “Looking back on when
Parliament was prorogued a year ago, Canadians have divided opinions over
whether it was a good or bad idea. But asked how they would feel if
Parliament was prorogued now until after the Olympics, we find widespread
apathy about it this time. There is clearly not the same level of passion about
the issue this time. There is likely less of a sense that the move is exceptional
or likely to have a major impact one way or another.”
•
Overall, opinion is fairly spilt over whether proroguing Parliament
was the right or wrong decision a year ago. A plurality of Canadians
(43%) said it was the right decision where as 38% thing it was the
wrong decision.
o Those living in Alberta (58%) and the Prairie (54%) provinces
are significantly more likely to say it was the right decision than
those living in other provinces.
o Those living in BC (44%) and Ontario (40%) are more likely to
say it was the wrong decision.
o Furthermore, men (47%) are more likely to say proroguing
Parliament last year was the right decision than women (39%).
o Conservative voters (68%) are overwhelmingly more likely to
say it was the right decision compared to other party
supporters
© Harris/Decima
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Right/Wrong Decision – Proroguing Parliament
Thinking back to a year ago, do you think proroguing Parliament was the right decision or the wrong
decision?
Overall
Atlantic
43%
38%
44%
35%
Quebec
38%
Ontario
40%
42%
B.C.
NDP
Green
29%
58%
Alberta
34%
34%
31%
42%
Liberal
40%
BQ
47%
39%
Male
44%
39%
0%
20%
Right Decision
$60k-$100k
38%
40%
60%
>$100k
80%
100%
Wrong Decision
40%
36%
42%
43%
52%
<$60k
35%
44%
50+
© Harris/Decima
39%
46%
35-49
19%
49%
52%
53%
45%
28%
Female
18-34
38%
68%
Conservative
39%
54%
Man/Sask
43%
Overall
0%
20%
Right Decision
37%
38%
41%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Wrong Decision
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•
Asked how Canadians would feel if the government were to prorogue
Parliament again, this time until after the Olympics, the plurality of
Canadians (46%) are now indifferent. Among the half of the
population who would feel one way or another about such a move,
people are more likely to be unhappy than happy with that idea.
o Those living in the Prairie provinces (24%) are significantly
more likely to be happy about it compared to other provinces.
o On the other hand, Ontarians (39%) are significantly more likely
to be unhappy with proroguing Parliament.
o Although partisan support certainly relates to one’s opinion, a
significant portion of each party’s voters would be indifferent
this time. Liberals (44%), New Democrats (42%) and Green
party supporters (48%) are significantly more likely to be
unhappy compared to the Conservatives (25%) and the Bloc
(27%).
Support for Prorogation of Parliament
If the government were to prorogue Parliament again, this time until after the Olympics,
would you say you'd be happy with it, unhappy with it, or indifferent to it?
Overall
15%
46%
34%
Overall
52%
31%
Conservative
Atlantic
12%
Quebec
13%
Ontario
12%
Man/Sask
58%
41%
24%
18%
43%
B.C.
19%
37%
NDP
39%
41%
Alberta
Liberal
26%
Green
28%
BQ
11%
Male
35%
53%
35-49
18%
50+
15%
0%
20%
Happy with it
© Harris/Decima
31%
29%
49%
40%
40%
46%
34%
22%
46%
13% 39%
13%
42%
8%
43%
9%
64%
25%
44%
42%
48%
27%
34%
Female
18-34
15%
38%
60%
<$60k
$60k-$100k
>$100k
16%
13%
43%
49%
37%
30%
17%
12%
15%
53%
43%
37%
24%
39%
44%
0%
80% 100%
Indifferent
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Unhappy with it
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•
Comparing how people feel about the last prorogation and the current
situation, those who felt it was a good idea last time, tend to be
indifferent this time. Among those who felt it was a bad idea last time,
only half feel unhappy with the idea of proroguing at this time.
Support for Prorogation of Parliament
If the government were to prorogue Parliament again, this time until after the Olympics,
would you say you'd be happy with it, unhappy with it, or indifferent to it?
15%
Overall
Proroguing
Parliament
One Year Ago
22%
Right Decision
Wrong Decision
8%
0%
Happy with it
46%
34%
49%
25%
36%
20%
Indifferent
53%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Unhappy with it
Each week, Harris/Decima interviews just over 1000 Canadians through
teleVox, the company’s national telephone omnibus survey. These data were
gathered between December 17 and December 20 2009. A sample of the same
size has a margin of error of 3.1%, 19 times out of 20.
© Harris/Decima
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