Montreal Gazette

CAQ continues to surge despite Liberal spending

At federal level, CROP poll finds Trudeau continues to draw support in Quebec

- PHILIP AUTHIER pauthier@postmedia.com Twitter.com/PhilipAuth­ier

A new poll shows the Coalition Avenir Québec still riding high in voter intentions and possibly en route to forming a majority government in the fall.

As the political season slows for the summer, the poll produced by CROP for Cogeco Nouvelles shows the CAQ has a six-percentage­point lead over its nearest rival, the Quebec Liberals.

With a score of 39 per cent in voter intentions, support for the CAQ has never been higher.

The Liberals placed second with 33 per cent while the Parti Québécois drew 14 per cent support, a historic low.

It is followed closely by Québec solidaire, which has the support of 11 per cent of the sample.

The CAQ largely dominates the francophon­e vote with 48 per cent compared with 23 per cent for the Liberals. On the other hand, the Liberals dominate the non-francophon­e vote with the support of 68 per cent. The CAQ score among non-francophon­es is currently eight per cent.

BEST IDEAS

According to the poll, CAQ Leader François Legault is considered the best person to be premier of Quebec (32 per cent) and is seen as best representi­ng change (35 per cent). And his CAQ party has the best ideas to govern the Quebec of tomorrow (31 per cent), the poll concluded.

Those numbers have not changed in months despite Premier Philippe Couillard’s efforts to portray the Liberals as renewed and ready to govern on in another mandate. The Liberals have also doled out millions as they try to shake their austere image.

CROP has tested the federal waters in Quebec, concluding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberals are still in control.

CROP pegged support for the federal Liberals in Quebec at 42 per cent. The Conservati­ves placed second at 27 per cent, which is bad news for the New Democrats, who recently dominated in Quebec. In this poll, the NDP is in fourth place with 10 per cent support.

Despite all the troubles that have beset the party, including the loss of leader Martine Ouellet, the Bloc Québécois is third (12 per cent). The Green party is at nine per cent.

Trudeau is seen as the best prime minister by 38 per cent of the sample, followed by Conservati­ve leader Andrew Scheer with 18 per cent. Green leader Elizabeth May has the support of five per cent, and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has four per cent.

The internet poll was conducted from June 13 to 19. A total of 1,002 persons answered the questions.

The numbers are similar to the last major poll done by Léger, which covered the period May 31June 10.

Quebecers go to the polls in a general election on Monday, Oct. 1.

 ?? JOHN MAHONEY ?? A CROP poll found that 32 per cent of Quebecers consider CAQ Leader François Legault to be the best candidate for premier.
JOHN MAHONEY A CROP poll found that 32 per cent of Quebecers consider CAQ Leader François Legault to be the best candidate for premier.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada