NATIONAL PULSE – Mulroney? Chretien? Harper? Trudeau? Which govt was best?

Harper edges Trudeau on ‘strong economic leadership,’
but the PM leads on most other qualities

By ANGUS REID INSTITUTE

January 26, 2018 – As the House of Commons returns Monday for its first sitting of 2018, Canadians view the chamber’s current Liberal majority more positively than its immediate predecessor on several key attributes of government, a new public opinion poll from the Angus Reid Institute finds.

Of the last four majority Canadian federal governments – those of Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper, Jean Chrétien, and Brian Mulroney – Canadians say each of eight statements canvassed most describes either Trudeau’s government or Harper’s, with the current Liberal PM leading on improving Canada’s global reputation, respecting diverse viewpoints, and improving standards of living for younger citizens. Harper leads on “strong economic leadership,” however.

Crucially, large numbers of Canadians say none of the four governments listed fit the descriptions “honest and trustworthy,” or “keeping its promises.”

More Key Findings:

• Overall, one-in-three Canadians (32%) say Trudeau’s government has been the best for Canada of the four, while nearly as many (28%) choose Harper

• Half of Canadians (49%) say “none of these” governments could be described as “honest and trustworthy,” and an even larger number (53%) say none of them could be described as “keeping promises”

• Political preferences drive opinion on these questions, with those who voted for Trudeau’s Liberal Party in 2015 viewing his government (and Chrétien’s) more favourably overall, while those who voted for Harper’s Conservatives overwhelmingly prefer his government (and notably not Mulroney’s – underscoring the difference between the current CPC and the now-defunct Progressive Conservatives)

Link to the poll here: www.angusreid.org/mulroney-chretien-harper-trudeau