OTTAWA - Another national poll suggests the Conservatives and the Liberals remain locked in a dead heat with little sign of momentum.
The latest Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey had support for both the major federal parties flatlining at 32 per cent. The NDP was at 17 per cent, the Bloc Quebecois nine and the Green party was at eight.
The telephone survey was conducted March 13 to 16, concluding the day before Monday's four federal byelections in which the Liberals retained three of four seats they had previously held and the Conservatives took one Saskatchewan riding.
Some Liberals indicated they'd be watching the byelection results for signs that it is time to bring the minority Tory government down and send Canadians to a general election this spring.
Bruce Anderson, president of Harris-Decima, said the poll does nothing to clear the air.
"Any party looking for a reason to cause an election in these numbers will find it hard to locate one," Anderson said Tuesday.
Over its last three national polls of 1,000 interviews each, Harris-Decima has found Tory support hovering between 31 and 33 per cent. Liberal support has ranged from 29 to 32 per cent.
The polls are considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times in 20.
In Quebec, the survey put the Bloc Quebecois on top with 37 per cent support, followed by the Liberals at 27, the Tories at 19, NDP at 12 and Greens with four. Those numbers coincide closely with the averages over the last three Harris-Decima polls.
In Ontario, Liberals lead with 43 per cent, followed by the Conservatives at 32, the NDP at 14 and the Greens at nine. Averaging the last three Ontario surveys, Liberals had 38, the Tories 32 and the NDP and Greens were tied at 14 per cent.
"These numbers are not good news for the Conservatives, especially the recent trends in Ontario and Quebec," said Anderson, noting the Tories had been competitive with the Liberals until very recently in both provinces.
"For the Liberals, the party is struggling west of Ontario, even while doing better east of Manitoba."
