Letters to the Editor

Wednesday 7 March 2012

New CRA poll: Support for NB PC government is stable, although satisfaction declined





SAINT JOHN - Satisfaction with the performance of the PC government decreased this quarter, according to the most recent survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. Presently, just under one-half (47%, down from 57% in November 2011) of New Brunswick residents are either completely or mostly satisfied, while four in ten (41%, up from 33%) are dissatisfied. The number of residents who say it is too soon to tell stands at one percent, while one in ten do not offer an opinion.

Voter support for the provincial PCs is stable, with over four in ten residents supporting the Progressive Conservative Party (45%, unchanged from three months ago). Three in ten New Brunswickers back the Liberals (31%, compared with 28%). Backing for the NDP is also stable (22%, compared with 23%), as is support for the Green Party (3%, unchanged). Less than one percent of decided voters back the People’s Alliance of New Brunswick (compared with 1%). Over four in ten residents are undecided, do not plan to vote, or refused to state a preference (45%, compared with 43%).


Support for David Alward declined, returning to levels in August 2011. Three in ten residents prefer Alward for Premier (31%, down from 36%), while the next leader of the Liberal Party is preferred by less than two in ten (17%, compared with 15%). Support for Dominic Cardy of the NDP stands at 11 percent (compared with 14%). Three percent (compared with 5%) prefer Jack MacDougall of the Green Party, while two percent (unchanged) prefer Kris Austin of the People’s Alliance of New Brunswick as Premier. Fifteen percent of New Brunswick residents like none of these leaders or prefer others, while two in ten do not offer a definite opinion.


These results are part of the CRA Atlantic Quarterly, an independent survey of Atlantic Canadians, and are based on a sample of 400 adult New Brunswickers, conducted from February 16 to February 29, 2012, with overall results accurate to within ±4.9 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times.