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CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
Business in Vancouver October 7-13, 2008; issue 989 Stephen Harper and Conservatives top latest BIV-Ipsos poll B.C. business sector support for Stéphane Dion and the federal Liberals evaporating, survey finds Andrew Petrozzi Almost two-thirds of Metro Vancouver business leaders will vote Conservative in the October 14 federal election, according to the most recent BIV-Ipsos survey. Conducted September 18 to 25, the poll found party support among decided respondents to be: •64% Conservative; •23% Liberal; •7% Green; and •2% NDP. A full 77% of the BIV-Ipsos Interactive Panel respondents were decided voters. “There are no real surprises here,” said Kyle Braid, Ipsos Reid’s vice-president of public affairs. “The business community likes stability, low taxes and clear and decisive leadership. I think, not surprisingly, they see that from the Conservative Party of Canada and Stephen Harper more than the other choices.” Party positions on important issues were the determining factor for almost three-quarters (73%) of respondents in deciding how they would vote. Local candidates (13%) and party leaders (13%) played far less of a role in that decision. The top three issues for respondents were: •the economy (56%); •the environment (13%); and •taxes (9%) The top three business issues: •the economy (83%); •taxes (50%); and •the environment (45%). Health care (33%) and crime/justice (30%) were far less prominent. While Braid said the subprime mortgage meltdown in the United States had raised the economy’s profile in the minds of survey respondents, the environment continues to be a critical factor for business leaders. “[The environment] has become a fundamental business principle here in B.C., and they don’t forget it when they vote either,” said Braid. Harper was widely viewed as the candidate who is most competent (62%), most trustworthy (44%), best suited to be prime minister (59%) and best equipped to deal with issues that matter to the business community (66%). “The business community here certainly isn’t blown away by the job that Stephen Harper and the Conservatives have done over the last few years,” said Braid. “But he’s clearly head and shoulders above the other alternatives.” Federal Liberal leader Stéphane Dion barely registered with respondents. Just 11% viewed him as most competent, while 17% considered him most trustworthy and 15% said Dion was best suited for dealing with issues that matter to the business community. Dion was tied with NDP leader Jack Layton (12%) as best suited to be prime minister. The Greens’ Elizabeth May failed to break double-digit figures in any of the survey’s leader categories. “[Dion] hasn’t got a single strength that people have managed to attach to him at this point,” said Braid. “With the business community, the carbon tax and the uncertainty around that is more of a factor, but really it is [about] not having a clear grasp on what Stéphane Dion is going to do and what he wants to accomplish. The stand-offish academic approach is not connecting with voters or the business community.” According to poll results, more than half of the B.C. business leaders (60%) involved in the survey would be satisfied with a Conservative majority. While support since the last federal election declined for the NDP (2006: 6%; 2008: 2%) among panel members, the Liberals lost substantial ground (2006: 31%; 2008: 23%) to the Conservatives (2006: 48%; 2008: 64%). The Greens, however, improved their standing (2006: 4%; 2008: 7%). In general, panel members are more likely to vote Conservative (64%) than other British Columbians (42%) and Canadians in general (39%). They’re also more likely to vote Liberal (23%) compared with other British Columbians (13%) but on par with other Canadians (23%). Panel members are significantly less likely to vote NDP (2%) compared with other British Columbians (31%) and other Canadians (18%), but are much closer in their support of the Greens (7%) with fellow British Columbians (12%) and Canadians in general (11%). • apetrozzi@biv.com |
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