Plurality Think it’s
OK for Ministers to Attend Fundraisers
Even when it’s the PM
Toronto, March 12th
– In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 1,340
Canadian voters, (41%) do not believe it’s unethical for the Prime Minister or
his Ministers to appear as special guests at a fundraiser for their political
party. (36%) believe it’s unethical, while (24%) do not know.
Those most likely to
respond that it’s not unethical include those earning $40,000-$60,000 (52%),
living in Québec (44%), Ontario (41%), or BC (43%), supporting the NDP (53%).
Those who have completed some college or university (42%), have a college or
university degree (42%), and those with a post-graduate degree (44%) are also
most likely to find no issue the practice.
Those most likely to
agree that it is unethical include those earning $80,000-$100,000 (44%), that
support the Conservative Party (47%), and the least educated (40%).
“Fundraising is
always a sensitive topic, and while the plurality finds that Ministers
attending fundraisers is okay, more than a third still find it unethical. It’s
a narrow margin and requires a cautious balance between the optics of
fundraising and the necessity of filling the campaign war chest,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research.
Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at
lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.
