A

new poll conducted for The Toronto Star, La Presse and CBC shows support remains high across the country for the federal Liberal party and its leader.

The poll was conducted in July-August, 2001 by EKOS Research.

It also shows Canadians remain confident about the economy, although there is less concern about the gap between rich and poor.

The poll:

• The Economy
• National Politics
• Perceptions of Canada in the Future
• Ontario and Quebec Politics
• Poll Methodology

• The Economy
  • Opinions on job security and the economy remain high
  • Canadians are not panicked by equity market turmoil
  • Anxiety is higher in lower income and lower-education demographic
  • Boomers and pre-retirement less confident
  • Canadians more resigned to permanent gap between haves & have-nots

Employment Question: "I think there's a good chance I could lose my job in the next couple of years" Question: "I feel I have lost all control of my economic future" Question: "I really worry that we are moving to a more divided society of haves and have-nots" top

• National Politics
  • Liberals stronghold on national scene, leading in all regions
  • Progressive Conservative seen as distant second nationally, and second in a three way Liberal-PC-CA race in Alberta
  • Canadian Alliance support drops in B.C., single-digit support in Ontario
  • Ontario/Quebec Liberals equal their best-ever support
  • PC's show stronger support in Atlantic, second to Liberal lead
  • NDP stuck low in popularity
  • Bloc stalled
  • Large demographic shift: seniors move to Liberals, boomers and pre-retirement move to PC.

National Politics Party Support 2001 2000 Election results LIBERAL 52.6 40.9 C.A. 9.8 25.5 P.C. 17.9 12.2 N.D.P. 9.1 8.5 Bloc 8.2 10.7 UNDECIDED=17.4% of sample top

• Perceptions of Canada in 10 years
  • Canadians see the country remaining prosperous, and having a responsible role in global issues, but aren't as certain about the culture or that Canada will be a leader.

The Future Question: "Which is more likely to describe Canada in ten years:" (Percent who agree with description) top

• Ontario & Quebec
  • Quebec: Race between Landry (PQ) and Charest (Lib.) too close to call
  • Ontario: Harris (PC) may be deposed by Dalton McGuinty (Lib.)

Quebec Politics Party Support 2001 *P.Q. 41.7 LIB. 44.9 A.D.Q. 11.1 *=current government UNDECIDED=17.1% of sample Question: "Please rate how much trust you have in..." top

Ontario Politics Party Support 2001 LIB. 50.4 *P.C. 35.2 N.D.P. 9.5 *=current government UNDECIDED=20% of sample Question: "Please rate how much trust you have in Mike Harris:" top

Methodology Telephone survey of 3004 complete interviews with a national random sample of Canadians at least 18 years old Interview period from July 26-August 29, 2001 Results valid within ± 1.8%;, 19 times out of 20 margin of error (M.O.E.) increases when results sub-divided refusal rate and other measurement errors could also increase M.O.E. Data were statistically weighted to ensure sample's regional, gender and age composition reflects population described in Canadian census. Part of the data includes tracking research from previous Ekos public opinion polls top