Harper Index: Majority government would move faster and farther (survey)

[tuvor]

Social conservatives could call shots if Conservatives faced fewer constraints, predict most surveyed.

Ottawa, March 26, 2008: In federal by-elections March 17, the Harper Conservatives showed surprising strength. They nearly won in Liberal bastion Vancouver Quadra and won by a landslide in the formerly Liberal Saskatchewan riding of Desnethé Missinippi Churchill River.

Despite serious controversies (Mulroney- Schreiber, AECL, Afghanistan, Cadman), Stephen Harper's and his party's polling numbers have held firm over the winter. The Conservatives are polling consistently in the low-to-high thirties, with high ratings for Stephen Harper's leadership. Although many Canadians appear to adamantly oppose Harper, there is a real prospect the next election, if it is fought on Harper's terms and turf, could result in a majority Conservative government.

What would a majority Stephen Harper Conservative government look like and do? How would it differ from the current minority government, which Harper has tried to position as moderate?

To get a sense of the answers, HarperIndex.ca conducted a small, informal survey of ten reporters and political observers. All responded to an email asking them to "type a number from 1 to 10 after each item on this list to show the priority you think it would get from a Harper majority government," and to offer other comments. Of the ten who responded, two simply offered comments, one by phone.

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http://www.harperindex.ca/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=00140

(Take it for what it's worth.)