CANADIANS TUNED-OUT AND
TURNED-OFF WITH THE HOUSE
OF COMMONS
Nik Nanos
T
he latest Nanos-Policy Options poll shows that
Canadians are more likely to be dissatisfied than sat-
isfied with the effectiveness of the House of
Commons. Five years ago, minority government was herald-
ed by some as an opportunity to mitigate the divisions
between the parties in a fashion similar to the Pearson era.
However, with Canada’s third minority government and no
majority breakthrough currently in sight, the appetite for
minority government may be waning.
The research did suggest that Canadians would embrace
changes to the House of Commons. An overwhelming
majority thinks the House of Commons would be more
effective if MPs had more free votes in the House and were
more polite in Question Period.
These are the principal findings of the latest Nanos
Research poll for Policy Options, part of this issue’s thematic,
“Making Parliament Work,” and posted on the IRPP’s Web
site as an Online Extra.
When we asked Canadians how satisfied they were with
the effectiveness of the House, only 10.1 percent said they
were satisfied, while another 23.8 percent said they were dis-
satisfied (question 1). The rest were either somewhat satis-
fied, somewhat dissatisfied or unsure on the effectiveness of
the House. Of note, people over 50 years of age and those
from BC, Quebec and Alberta were more likely to be dissat-
isfied compared with other Canadians.
In terms of possibly addressing how the House could be
changed, a number of proposals were tested.
Two Canadians in three (65.2 percent) favour more free
votes, while only two in 10 think the impact of free votes
would be negative to neutral (question 2).
Similarly, nearly two Canadians in three, 64.6 percent,
thought improved behaviour in Question Period would
have a positive impact on Parliament, while fewer than one
in 20 respondents, only 4.7 percent, thought it would have
a negative impact (question 3). Another 20 percent said bet-
ter behaviour would have no impact on the effectiveness of
the House of Commons, while 10.6 percent were unsure.
There is no doubt that the bad behaviour of Question
Period leaves a negative impression on Canadians, and
undermines the perception of the effectiveness of the House
of Commons.
But when we asked who was the most effective leader in
the House, the answer came back loud and clear — Stephen
Harper (question 4).
The Prime Minister was judged to be the most effective
leader in the House by 27.9 percent of Canadians, while
Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff was seen as the best in
the Commons by only 10.7 percent, trailing NDP leader Jack
Layton at 12.5 percent. Of note, one-third, or 35.6 percent,
were unsure which of the leaders was the most effective.
Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe was in second
place at 13.2 percent, pulled up by his strong score of 37.4
percent in Quebec, where Harper was rated best in the
House by 20.1 percent, Layton was at 12.5 percent, with
Ignatieff at only 10.3 percent.
Nationally, even among voters intending to vote
Liberal, Ignatieff registered a score similar to Harper’s as best
in the House by a margin of only one point, 23.8 percent to
22.8 percent. By contrast, among Conservative voters,
Harper was chosen most effective in the House by 57.1 per-
cent, as against 7.7 percent who chose Ignatieff.
In terms of focus and where Canadians learn about the
activities of the House of Commons, one of every two
Canadians (49.7 percent) said they did not follow closely at all
what happens in the House of Commons, while only one in
ten (9 percent) said they follow the House of Commons close-
ly (question 5).
When we asked Canadians where they got most of their
information on the House of Commons, a clear majority,
50.6 percent, said television was their primary source.
Another 21.9 percent said newspapers were their main
source of information, while 9.7 percent said it was radio.
But 15.5 percent said the Internet was the source of most of
their information on the House (question 6).
Although back in 2004 minority government and the
calls from politicians to make our political discourse more
civil might have been seen as a break from the past, today
Canadians are tuned-out, turned-off and skeptical of the
effectiveness of the House of Commons. On the positive
side of the ledger, there is a continued interest in chang-
ing the tone and giving MPs greater flexibility through
free votes.
Regardless, the research should give parliamentarians
and our political leaders pause.
Contributing Writer Nik Nanos is president and CEO of Nanos
Research, a national public opinion research firm based in
Ottawa. He is also research associate professor at the State
University of New York (SUNY) in Buffalo.
POLICY OPTIONS 1
SEPTEMBER 2010
 Nik Nanos

Question 1. Would you say that you are satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the
effectiveness of the House of Commons?

Somewhat Somewhat
Total Satisfied satisfied dissatisfied Dissatisfied Unsure
N % % % % %
Region Canada 1,014 10.1 25.3 20.2 23.8 20.5
Atlantic 97 14.5 32.1 11.6 21.2 20.6
Quebec 276 7.8 25.3 27.1 28.6 11.2
Ontario 302 9.7 24.8 18.2 20.4 26.9
Manitoba/
Saskatchewan 98 11.2 27.1 26.7 11.1 23.9
Alberta 105 13.5 29.4 15.0 28.2 13.9
British Columbia 134 9.1 16.8 16.5 29.4 28.2

Gender Male 497 10.7 25.9 20.3 27.1 16.1

Female 517 9.5 24.7 20.2 20.7 24.9

Age 18 to 29 197 7.7 25.2 19.4 19.4 28.4

30 to 39 195 11.4 25.7 23.6 17.1 22.1
40 to 49 218 8.7 25.6 19.0 23.6 23.1
50 to 59 173 12.0 22.1 20.2 30.3 15.4
60 plus 231 10.9 27.0 19.4 28.7 13.9

Home Own 734 10.1 25.3 20.8 25.2 18.6

Rent 241 11.0 24.8 18.5 21.8 23.8
Refusal 38 5.1 27.3 20.4 11.0 36.2

Vote Liberal 270 13.9 24.5 19.8 26.3 15.5

profile Conservative 274 12.8 34.7 18.0 19.8 14.7
NDP 131 6.9 22.7 24.4 22.6 23.5
Bloc 100 2.6 22.6 30.0 36.0 8.8
Green 51 4.4 22.9 29.9 23.6 19.2
Undecided 189 8.6 16.6 13.4 20.7 40.7

Question 2. Do you think allowing MPs the flexibility to vote against their party will have a positive, negative or no
impact on the effectiveness of the House of Commons? [ROTATE]

Total Positive impact Negative impact No impact Unsure

N % % % %

Region Canada 2010-08 1,014 65.2 11.4 10.4 13.0

Atlantic 97 59.0 12.6 11.1 17.3
Quebec 276 70.3 9.8 15.6 4.3
Ontario 302 63.8 12.8 5.6 17.8
Manitoba/
Saskatchewan 98 60.9 14.3 9.2 15.6
Alberta 105 63.4 11.9 14.2 10.5
British Columbia 134 67.1 7.9 8.2 16.9

Gender Male 497 69.4 11.9 8.8 9.8

Female 517 61.2 10.8 12.0 16.0

Age 18 to 29 197 61.3 13.5 7.7 17.4

30 to 39 195 67.9 11.4 11.4 9.3
40 to 49 218 61.5 12.8 11.8 13.8
50 to 59 173 70.2 10.1 9.6 10.1
60 plus 231 66.1 9.0 11.2 13.7

Home Own 734 67.2 10.9 9.5 12.4

Rent 241 59.4 13.0 13.4 14.3
Refusal 38 64.5 10.1 9.1 16.2

Vote profile Liberal 270 65.6 15.1 8.9 10.4

Conservative 274 65.5 13.5 9.0 12.0
NDP 131 66.3 8.9 11.4 13.4
Bloc 100 72.7 10.7 15.0 1.7
Green 51 80.0 9.3 7.3 3.4
Undecided 189 55.6 5.6 12.4 26.4

2 OPTIONS POLITIQUES
SEPTEMBRE 2010
 Canadians tuned-out and turned-off with the House of Commons

Question 3. Do you think having MPs be more polite in Question Period will have a positive, negative or no impact on
the effectiveness of the House of Commons?

Total Positive impact Negative impact No impact Unsure

N % % % %

Region Canada 1,014 64.6 4.7 20.0 10.6

Atlantic 97 66.6 3.7 15.7 14.1
Quebec 276 69.1 2.6 25.6 2.6
Ontario 302 62.0 6.8 14.8 16.4
Manitoba/
Saskatchewan 98 67.3 3.2 15.7 13.9
Alberta 105 63.2 4.2 26.5 6.1
British Columbia 134 59.2 6.7 21.0 13.1

Gender Male 497 65.6 7.0 19.3 8.1

Female 517 63.8 2.5 20.6 13.1

Age 18 to 29 197 61.3 4.8 18.4 15.5

30 to 39 195 63.6 5.0 22.9 8.6
40 to 49 218 58.5 5.6 22.6 13.3
50 to 59 173 68.3 5.8 19.7 6.3
60 plus 231 71.6 2.7 16.7 9.0

Home Own 734 65.4 4.7 20.4 9.4

Rent 241 61.8 4.6 20.6 13.0
Refusal 38 67.3 6.6 7.0 19.2

Vote profile Liberal 270 71.8 2.9 18.6 6.7

Conservative 274 64.9 7.2 18.3 9.6
NDP 131 56.4 4.9 27.6 11.1
Bloc 100 71.0 3.9 25.1 0.0
Green 51 70.7 6.0 19.8 3.4
Undecided 189 54.9 3.6 16.5 25.1

Question 4. As you may know, the party leaders in the House of Commons are Stephen Harper, Michael Ignatieff, Jack
Layton and Gilles Duceppe. Which of the leaders would you say is the most effective in the House of Commons?

Stephen Michael Jack Gilles

Total Harper Ignatieff Layton Duceppe Unsure
N % % % % %

Region Canada 1,014 27.9 10.7 12.5 13.2 35.6

Atlantic 97 36.1 11.1 9.8 2.0 41.0
Quebec 276 20.1 10.3 12.0 37.4 20.1
Ontario 302 30.6 8.1 14.0 3.6 43.7
Manitoba/
Saskatchewan 98 31.6 6.3 11.5 6.3 44.3
Alberta 105 31.3 14.7 12.1 7.9 34.1
British Columbia 134 26.6 17.4 13.4 2.8 39.7
Gender Male 497 31.1 11.1 12.8 14.5 30.5
Female 517 24.9 10.4 12.3 12.0 40.4

Age 18 to 29 197 18.4 6.8 10.6 16.5 47.7

30 to 39 195 24.3 12.1 12.1 15.7 35.7
40 to 49 218 27.2 11.3 10.8 11.3 39.5
50 to 59 173 32.2 9.1 14.4 13.5 30.8
60 plus 231 36.6 13.7 14.8 10.1 24.9

Home Own 734 30.5 11.0 12.7 11.3 34.5

Rent 241 21.4 10.3 12.8 20.0 35.5
Refusal 38 19.4 8.3 8.2 8.7 55.3

Vote Liberal 270 22.8 23.8 13.2 10.7 29.5

profile Conservative 274 57.1 7.7 8.3 3.1 23.9
NDP 131 13.2 7.7 29.2 10.2 39.6
Bloc 100 8.3 4.1 9.2 63.1 15.3
Green 51 18.4 11.3 14.7 12.6 43.1
Undecided 189 16.1 2.0 7.4 7.6 66.9

POLICY OPTIONS 3
SEPTEMBER 2010
 Nik Nanos

Question 5. Do you follow what happens in the House of Commons closely, somewhat closely or not at all closely?

Total Closely Somewhat closely Not at all closely Unsure

N % % % %

Region Canada 1,014 9.0 40.0 49.7 1.3

Atlantic 97 11.6 38.5 49.3 0.6
Quebec 276 8.7 36.4 54.9 0.0
Ontario 302 8.8 41.2 47.9 2.1
Manitoba/
Saskatchewan 98 8.7 38.0 51.6 1.8
Alberta 105 7.2 47.6 44.2 1.1
British Columbia 134 9.7 41.1 46.4 2.7

Gender Male 497 11.6 46.8 40.0 1.6

Female 517 6.5 33.4 59.0 1.0

Age 18 to 29 197 3.9 31.0 63.2 1.9

30 to 39 195 7.9 35.0 56.4 0.7
40 to 49 218 8.7 34.4 55.9 1.0
50 to 59 173 7.7 46.6 44.7 1.0
60 plus 231 15.6 52.2 30.3 1.9

Home Own 734 9.4 42.4 47.0 1.2

Rent 241 8.0 33.6 57.1 1.4
Refusal 38 7.1 34.3 55.3 3.3

Vote profile Liberal 270 11.6 41.0 46.9 0.5

Conservative 274 9.4 51.7 38.0 0.9
NDP 131 5.1 41.1 51.2 2.6
Bloc 100 13.9 32.3 53.8 0.0
Green 51 7.2 37.4 55.4 0.0
Undecided 189 5.3 25.5 65.8 3.3

Question 6. Where do you get most of your information on what happens in the House of Commons?

Word of All of the

Total Television Newspaper Radio The Internet mouth above
N % % % % % % %
Region Canada 496 50.6 21.9 9.7 15.5 0.6 0.5 1.1
Atlantic 49 50.6 19.5 5.1 19.7 2.9 0.0 2.3
Quebec 125 64.2 14.1 8.2 12.2 0.7 0.5 0.0
Ontario 151 51.9 24.9 8.5 12.2 0.4 0.0 2.1
Manitoba/
Saskatchewan 46 47.1 18.6 16.6 17.7 0.0 0.0 0.0
Alberta 58 30.4 31.2 11.2 26.1 0.0 1.1 0.0
BC 68 42.2 25.3 12.5 15.7 0.0 2.1 2.0
Gender Male 290 45.1 24.5 11.8 16.0 0.2 0.7 1.7
Female 207 58.3 18.2 6.8 14.9 1.1 0.3 0.4
Age 18 to 29 69 61.1 8.3 8.3 22.2 0.0 0.0 0.0
30 to 39 83 43.3 25.0 6.7 21.7 1.7 0.0 1.7
40 to 49 94 40.5 22.6 14.3 21.4 0.0 0.0 1.2
50 to 59 94 47.8 20.4 15.0 12.4 0.9 0.9 2.7
60 plus 156 57.7 26.6 6.0 7.7 0.4 1.2 0.4
Home Own 380 49.1 23.3 11.6 14.1 0.4 0.5 0.9
Rent 100 58.7 14.5 2.8 20.4 1.4 0.8 1.4
Refusal 16 34.6 32.9 8.8 18.5 0.0 0.0 5.3
Vote Liberal 142 46.5 29.8 9.8 11.5 0.0 0.4 2.0
profile Conservative 167 48.4 22.0 10.9 17.4 0.0 0.8 0.5
NDP 60 47.3 23.7 11.0 15.6 0.0 1.4 1.0
Bloc 46 68.6 13.9 2.4 15.1 0.0 0.0 0.0
Green 23 48.4 12.5 12.2 23.3 3.6 0.0 0.0
Undecided 58 57.0 10.2 9.7 17.3 3.5 0.0 2.4

Source: Nanos Research

Note: Random Telephone Survey of 1,014 Canadians from August 28th to September 3rd 2010.
The margin of accuracy for a sample of 1,014 is ±3.1%, 19 times out of 20.
www.nanosresearch.com

4 OPTIONS POLITIQUES
SEPTEMBRE 2010