Liberal values won election, says poll

Canadians want active federal government, humanitarianism

Canadians have put high hopes in the ability of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government to make positive changes in areas ranging from Canada’s reputation around the world to the health of democracy here at home, a new poll has found.

The survey by EKOS Research, to be released Thursday at a conference organized in Ottawa by the Canada 2020 think tank, also contains fresh data that explains how the Liberals won the Oct. 19 election by echoing the fundamental values that many voters call their own.

The survey found that Canadians prefer a vision of Canada that supports an “active” federal government, puts the emphasis on humanitarianism and development over defence, and gives the nod to “reason and evidence” instead of “moral certainty.”

“There are huge expectations,” EKOS president Frank Graves said in an interview Wednesday.

“I think the government will have a reasonably good chance to deliver on some of those values expectations.

“Because a lot of it is, frankly, a question of style and narrative.”

In a national survey conducted from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2, EKOS found that 68 per cent of Canadians believe the election results will have a positive impact on Canada’s reputation on the world stage.

Only 18 per cent thought it would be negative.

As well, 63 per cent said the health of democracy will improve because of the election outcome, while only 15 per cent said it would be worse.

And with Trudeau headed to Paris later this month for a UN conference on climate change, 63 per cent have a positive sense there will be “progress” on the issue, versus just 10 per cent who said it would be worse and 24 per cent who said the election outcome would make no difference.

The poll of 1,227 Canadians was conducted by phone and online. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

“It was pretty clear that the values vision that Justin Trudeau and the Liberals were offering up, backed up with an accounting framework that says we actually are going to find the money to do this, is what won this election for them,” said Graves.

The survey results come as the Liberal government prepares to recall Parliament in early December and press ahead with an active agenda.

Trudeau is in the midst of foreign trips where international leaders are discussing issues ranging from the economy, to the threat of ISIS, to the need for an agreement on climate change.

Graves said his polling found that after 10 years in power, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives were facing “growing tension” between what they stood for and the basic values espoused by Canadians.

“I really believe that the election shifted from being an important election about the economy to a historic election about values.”

His conclusion is supported by another poll EKOS conducted Oct. 8-12. Canadians were asked to identify the “most important factor” that would determine their vote.

Forty-seven per cent said it would be the choice that best reflects their values; 33 per cent said it would be a party platform or ideas; 10 per cent said it would be the party leader; and eight per cent said it would be the local candidate.

Canadians were asked about the “choices” that best describe their “vision” of Canada. Sixty four per cent cited humanitarianism and development versus 23 per cent who opted for defence.

Sixty-three per cent favoured active federal government, while 23 per cent supported “minimal government.”

And 57 per cent favoured “reason and evidence” over the 24 per cent who stood by “moral certainty.”

“I think people got fed up,” Graves said of voters.

“They were really resentful to not only this indifference, but hostility, to science and to reason. It was a very strident anti-intellectualism and it didn’t fit well. It’s not where Canadians were.”

I think the government will have a reasonably good chance to deliver on some of those values expectations.