NATIONAL PULSE – With two weeks to go, CPC leads Liberals by three points

By ANGUS REID INSTITUTE

September 7, 2021 – The fourth week of Canada’s 44th federal election campaign begins against the backdrop of gravel-throwing protestors targeting one party leader, while another made what may amount to a campaign-saving reversal over his stance on military-style assault rifles.

The leaders now hunker down in Ottawa ahead of French and English televised debates in what could be a pivotal period ahead of voting day on Sept. 20. With advance polls opening on Friday, and mail-in ballots already available, voters are able to lock in early based on their impressions from the debates.

The latest data shows both leading parties picking up slight support, but not enough to change the dynamics of the race. The Conservatives, who overtook the Liberals in vote intention last week, gain another two points (35%) driven by increasing support on both coasts. The Liberals are also up two points (32%), while the NDP is down one point from last week (20%).

None of the major parties gains or losses can be considered statistically significant as they wrestle for more support from voters. On the fringes, the PPC picks up two points (5%) while the Green Party has sunk to its lowest point in at least seven years of tracking, at two per cent.

More Key Findings:

• • With leaders set to take centre stage this week in the English and French debates, three-in-ten Canadians say their opinion of Erin O’Toole has improved in recent weeks, while 24 per cent say this of Jagmeet Singh, and just six per cent of Justin Trudeau.

• Health care, climate change, and COVID-19 continue to top the list of issues Canadians see facing the country. The economy and housing affordability form a second tier.
• Jagmeet Singh leads in favourability at 53 per cent. Just 37 per cent view O’Toole favourably and 36 per cent say the same of Trudeau.

Link to the poll here: http://www.angusreid.org/