The Financial Post reports that business leaders have flipped their support from the 2004 election when they favored Team Martin and the Chretien/Martin Liberals. They have now solidly chosen Conservative leader Stephen Harper as the leader who would best aid the economy.
Canadian business leaders, who have typically favoured the economic policies of the Conservative Party, but not necessarily its leaders, are now expressing significant confidence in Stephen Harper’s ability to lead the country as prime minister, a new poll suggests.
A Web-based survey of Canadian business executives conducted for the Financial Post by COMPAS Inc. shows voter support for Mr. Harper’s Conservatives is not only increasing, but a majority of respondents—72%—now also believe a Conservative majority government led by Mr. Harper would have a decidedly positive impact on the economy. By contrast, only 41% believed a majority Liberal government led by Mr. Martin would be favourable.
[…] “It’s the depth of attachment, not the breadth of attachment that’s important here,” said Conrad Winn, president of COMPAS, of the most recent poll results. “The big difference is that Paul Martin has lost his halo from years of success as finance minister.
“Support for Paul Martin himself appears to have collapsed.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Harper’s Conservatives have been lauded for running a campaign that has been issue-focused and largely error-free, while Mr. Martin and the Liberals have been criticized for fumbling key announcements, adopting risky strategies and making up policy on the fly.
As well, the scandal-plagued Liberal party has suffered in the eyes of the business community for Finance Minister Ralph Goodale’s handling of income trusts, which is now being investigated by the RCMP.
When asked to grade the party leaders for their campaign performances over the past two weeks, the panelists gave Mr. Harper an average score of 72%—the highest score he has ever received in the survey. Mr. Martin’s average score was 42% by contrast.
Even more damaging to the Liberals are the 54% of respondents that single out Mr. Harper as “responsible,” compared to just 13% for Mr. Martin. […]
PTBC was founded by Mr. Johannesen in 2000.
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