Page 1 of 6
CONTACT:
Jodi Shanoff, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, 416-712-5498, jodi.shanoff@angus-reid.com
For Immediate Release
Canadian Public Opinion Poll
PROROGATION
Majority of Canadians Disagree with
Prorogation of Parliament
About two-in-five respondents think the decision was taken to curtail the
inquiry into the treatment of Afghan detainees.
[VANCOUVER – Jan. 7, 2010] – The recent
prorogation of Parliament does not sit well with a
majority of Canadians, and supporters of
opposition parties are particularly dismayed by the
decision, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll
conducted in partnership with the Toronto Star
has found.
In the online survey of a representative national
sample of 1,019 Canadian adults, 53 per cent of
respondents disagree with the decision to
prorogue Parliament.
Conversely, only 19 per cent agree with the move.
Almost three-in-ten Canadians (28%) are
undecided.
The rejection of the decision to prorogue
Parliament is highest in Ontario (59%) and lowest
in the Prairies (50% in Alberta, 48% in Manitoba
and Saskatchewan).
Political Allegiance
A large proportion of respondents who voted for
the Liberal Party (78%), the Green Party (75%),
the New Democratic Party (NDP) (72%) and the
Bloc Québécois (65%) in the 2008 federal election disagree with the prorogation of Parliament. Almost
half of Conservative voters (46%) agree with the decision.
KEY FINDINGS
53% disagree with the decision to
prorogue Parliament, including large
majorities of opposition party
supporters
38% think prorogation is being invoked
to curtail an inquiry into the treatment
of Afghan detainees; 23% think it was
necessary to review the next stage of
the government’s economic plan
Full topline results are at the end of this release.
From January 5 to January 6, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion
conducted an online survey among 1,019 randomly selected
Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The
margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/-
3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to
the most current education, age, gender and region Census
data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult
population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are
due to rounding.
Page 2 of 6
CONTACT:
Jodi Shanoff, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, 416-712-5498, jodi.shanoff@angus-reid.com
For Immediate Release
Canadian Public Opinion Poll
Taking Sides
About two-in-five Canadians (38%) side with the view of opposition parties, and believe prorogation was
invoked in order to curtail an inquiry into the treatment of Afghan detainees. About one quarter of
respondents (23%) agree with the federal government's position that prorogation was necessary to
recalibrate, consult and deliver the next stage of the economic plan.
Page 3 of 6
CONTACT:
Jodi Shanoff, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, 416-712-5498, jodi.shanoff@angus-reid.com
For Immediate Release
Canadian Public Opinion Poll
Prorogation
As you may know, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has prorogued Parliament, that is, suspended all
activities and delayed the return of MPs and Senators. Have you followed this story in the media?
Region
Total BC AB MB/SK ON PQ ATL
Yes, very closely 11% 18% 15% 3% 11% 8% 16%
Yes, moderately closely 23% 22% 20% 18% 29% 16% 23%
Yes, but not too closely 31% 33% 27% 49% 35% 22% 33%
No, I have not followed this story at all 34% 26% 38% 31% 25% 53% 28%
Prorogation
As you may know, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has prorogued Parliament, that is, suspended all
activities and delayed the return of MPs and Senators. Have you followed this story in the media?
Political Allegiance
Total Con Lib NDP BQ Grn
Yes, very closely 11% 10% 22% 17% 14% 8%
Yes, moderately closely 23% 26% 30% 22% 26% 39%
Yes, but not too closely 31% 40% 27% 43% 22% 28%
No, I have not followed this story at all 34% 24% 21% 18% 39% 26%
Page 4 of 6
CONTACT:
Jodi Shanoff, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, 416-712-5498, jodi.shanoff@angus-reid.com
For Immediate Release
Canadian Public Opinion Poll
Prorogation
Do you agree or disagree with the decision to prorogue Parliament?
Region
Total BC AB MB/SK ON PQ ATL
Strongly agree 7% 13% 7% 15% 4% 9% 3%
Moderately agree 12% 10% 14% 16% 13% 9% 8%
Moderately disagree 15% 21% 24% 20% 16% 10% 7%
Strongly disagree 38% 31% 26% 28% 43% 36% 54%
Not sure 28% 24% 29% 22% 24% 36% 28%
Prorogation
Do you agree or disagree with the decision to prorogue Parliament?
Political Allegiance
Total Con Lib NDP BQ Grn
Strongly agree 7% 20% 1% 1% 4% 0%
Moderately agree 12% 26% 6% 6% 7% 5%
Moderately disagree 15% 17% 17% 15% 8% 14%
Strongly disagree 38% 18% 61% 57% 57% 61%
Not sure 28% 19% 15% 20% 23% 20%
Page 5 of 6
CONTACT:
Jodi Shanoff, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, 416-712-5498, jodi.shanoff@angus-reid.com
For Immediate Release
Canadian Public Opinion Poll
Prorogation
The Federal Government claims that prorogation was necessary to recalibrate, consult and deliver the
next stage of its economic plan. The Opposition claims that prorogation is being invoked in order to
curtail an inquiry into the treatment of Afghan detainees. Thinking about this, which side do you agree
with the most?
Region
Total BC AB MB/SK ON PQ ATL
The Federal Government 23% 27% 26% 39% 20% 22% 19%
The Opposition 38% 38% 29% 22% 40% 41% 49%
Neither / Not sure 39% 35% 44% 39% 41% 37% 32%
Prorogation
The Federal Government claims that prorogation was necessary to recalibrate, consult and deliver the
next stage of its economic plan. The Opposition claims that prorogation is being invoked in order to
curtail an inquiry into the treatment of Afghan detainees. Thinking about this, which side do you agree
with the most?
Political Allegiance
Total Con Lib NDP BQ Grn
The Federal Government 23% 54% 8% 11% 6% 7%
The Opposition 38% 12% 60% 56% 69% 67%
Neither / Not sure 39% 35% 33% 33% 25% 26%
Page 6 of 6
CONTACT:
Jodi Shanoff, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, 416-712-5498, jodi.shanoff@angus-reid.com
For Immediate Release
Canadian Public Opinion Poll
Angus Reid Public Opinion is a practice of Vision Critical—a global research and technology
company specializing in custom online panels, private communities, and innovative online methods.
Vision Critical is a leader in the use of the Internet and rich media technology to collect high-quality,
in-depth insights for a wide array of clients. Dr. Angus Reid and the Angus Reid Strategies team are
pioneers in online research methodologies, and have been conducting online surveys since 1995
Vision Critical is now one of the largest market research enterprises in the world. In addition to its five
offices in Canada—located in Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Toronto, and Montreal—the firm also has
offices in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, London, Paris and Sydney. Its team of specialists
provides solutions across every type and sector of research, and currently serves over 200
international clients.
Angus Reid Public Opinion polls are conducted using the Angus Reid Forum
(www.angusreidforum.com), Springboard America (www.springboardamerica.com) and Springboard
UK (www.springboarduk.com) online panels, which are carefully recruited to ensure representation
across all demographic and psychographic segments of these populations. Panel members pass
through rigorous screening and a double opt-in process ensuring highly motivated and responsive
members. These premier online survey platforms present respondents with highly visual, interactive,
and engaging surveys, ensuring that panel members provide thoughtful and reliable responses.
Each survey is actively sampled and weighted to model that characteristics of the universe required
and employs the latest in quality control techniques to ensure data validity.
Angus Reid, the only public opinion firm to exclusively use online methods to follow the views of the
electorate during the 2008 federal campaign, offered the most accurate prediction of the results of
Canada’s 40th election.
http://bit.ly/4zxfIS
Since 2006, Angus Reid has covered eight provincial elections in Canada—more than any other
pollster in the country—and the results have accurately predicted the outcome of each of these
democratic processes.
More information on the way Angus Reid conducts public opinion research can be found at
http://bit.ly/3z0uII
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For more information, please contact
our spokesperson listed in the footnote.
Copies of this poll are available on our website:
http://www.visioncritical.com/category/global-opinions-and-trends
