Posted on 01/27/2005 8:34:38 AM PST by UpHereEh
A NEW Conservative Party poll shows 58% of people in the GTA support Stephen Harper's position on preserving the traditional definition of marriage while allowing civil unions for gay couples, Sun Media has learned. The poll also shows that 34% of people in the GTA back Prime Minister Paul Martin's stance that the definition of marriage should include same-sex couples.
The national survey of 1,500 randomly chosen Canadians was conducted by David Crapper, formerly of Decima Research and Praxis, the polling firms for the defunct Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and the Canadian Alliance respectively.
ONTARIO FIGURES
Nationally, the poll shows 42% back the Conservatives' position while 35% agree with the prime minister.
The numbers for Ontario are nearly identical to those for the GTA, with 57% of those polled siding with preserving the traditional definition of marriage compared to 38% who believe same-sex couples should be included.
The figures were presented to Conservative MPs during the wrap-up session of a three-day caucus in Victoria yesterday, but were not made public.
Harper didn't want to discuss numbers, but Sun sources said the national numbers also reflect provincial trends, with the exception of B.C. where most of those polled supported same-sex marriage.
"What's clear from our data ... is that most Canadians want to see some middle ground on this issue. That's why I propose we recognize the traditional definition of marriage but also make accommodation and respect the equality and benefits of those in other relationships," Harper said.
The poll also found the Liberals at 31% support nationally; with the Conservatives at 28%; the NDP with 18% and the Green Party at 4%.
"David Crapper"
Now there's an unfortunate name for a pollster.
I was thinking the same thing myself. School must have been rough!
In the comments about Crapper, do please remember 'ahem, twas the immortal Doctor Thomas Crapper who invented an early form of flush toilet. LOL.
One more thing, though decidedly a digression. Last night CBC- Canada's state run television service did the hatchet job of hatchet jobs on FOX NEWS. Something has to be up. One hour of virtually hitting Fox with their purse. Played Bill O'Reilly and his admittedly unpleasant put down of a Mr Glick. Repeated it maybe three times- O'Reilly saying "Shut up, just shut up" . Tried to grill the attractive Rachel Marsden (remember the name) Canada's sort of Ann Coulter- oh yeah, they hit Ann with their purse as well. Tax dollars at work- dirty work. LOL>
Typical of CBC, I wish I would have seen that.
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