General

Harper’s popularity slides in leadership poll

Government facing spate of scandals

A new poll shows that trust in Stephen Harper has declined in recent weeks following a series of political scandals. The Nanos Research poll shows Harper’s leadership index score has fallen from 99 in February to 83 in March. Michael Ignatieff did not benefit much from the drop, as his score only increased from 37 to 40. Meanwhile, NDP leader Jack Layton’s score jumped from 44 to 51. Harper’s decline in the poll is mainly attributed to a spate of political scandals, including party officials being charged with breaking election financing laws, and revelations that Bruce Carson, a former Harper aide, lobbied for dodgy water contracts that would have benefited him and his fiancee, a former escort. The government is also facing the prospect of being found in contempt of Parliament over two separate incidents.

The Globe and Mail

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