TORONTO – It is a dead heat in Ontario. The latest Nanos tracking in the province of Ontario suggests that a polarization may be taking place. Jobs/ the economy are noticeably up as the most important provincial issue of concern.
Nanos states, “Although the provincial Liberals had a marginal three point lead over the Conservatives in March, it is now a dead heat at 36 percent respectively for the Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives followed by the NDP who are at 22 percent provincially”.
On the Nanos Ontario Party Power Index, the Liberals have an advantage scoring 56 points out of 100, followed by the NDP at 50 points, the PCs at 48 points and the Green Party of Ontario at 32 points.
Nanos offers, “Of note, on the leadership front, Wynne has the advance on the preferred Premier front over both Horwath and Hudak. Also of note, there has been a noticeable one month decline in the percentage of Ontarians who would consider voting for the provincial New Democrats”.
Nanos Provincial Tracking Summary as of April 11, 2014:
Ontario Monthly Party Power Index Tracking Score (Diffusion Index 0-100 points)
Liberal Party: 56
NDP: 50
PC: 48
Green: 32
Ontario Ballot Tracking
Question: For those parties you would consider voting for PROVINCIALLY, could you please rank your top two preferences? [First Ranked Choice]
Liberal Party: 36.3%
PC: 36.0%
NDP: 21.6%
Green Party: 5.7%
Ontario Issue Tracking
Question: What is your most important PROVINCIAL issue of concern?
Jobs/economy: 22.3%
Healthcare: 14.4%
Debt/deficit: 6.1%
High taxes: 5.9%
Education: 5.5%
The environment: 3.2%
Ontario Vote Considerations Tracking
Question: For each of the following provincial political parties, please tell me if you would consider or not consider voting for it. [Each party separate question]
Would consider
Liberal Party: 52.1%
PC: 44.0%
NDP: 37.0%
Green Party: 29.8%
Ontario Leadership Tracking
Question: Of the current provincial political party leaders, could you please rank your top two current preferences for Premier?
First ranked choice
Kathleen Wynne (Liberal): 31.5%
Tim Hudak (PC): 24.8%
Andrea Horwath (NDP): 17.9%
Mike Schreiner (Green): 2.5%
None of them: 7.4%
Unsure [unprompted]: 15.9%
Question: For each of the following federal political party leaders, do you think they have or do not have the qualities to be a good political leader? [Each leader separate question]
Has qualities of a good leader
Kathleen Wynne: 53.6%
Andrea Horwath: 52.6%
Tim Hudak: 38.8%
Mike Schreiner: 18.5%
