Canadians handed Justin Trudeau’s Liberals a majority government Monday night and while the economy was front and centre throughout the election, issues such as a strong desire for change and government accountability were at the top of voters’ minds.
An Ipsos Election Day survey conducted on behalf of Global News found that the economy in general was selected as the most important issue among 21 per cent of respondents. The survey, conducted after people voted Monday, surveyed more than 9,000 people on 30 different election issues that range from the economy to healthcare and Bill C-51 among others.
The top five issues among respondents found “general desire for change” was second with 10 per cent and government accountability and transparency was third with nine per cent. Taxes and the deficit were tied for fourth and fifth at six percent.
A similar survey conducted by Ipsos on Election Day in 2011 found the economy was the top choice among respondents with 23 per cent. Healthcare was the second most important issue with 13 per cent, government accountability and transparency was at 11 per cent, with taxes and social program spending rounding out the top five spots at eight and six per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, the hot-button issue of the niqab was listed as important among just two per cent of voters.
Duff Conacher, a visiting political science professor at the University of Ottawa and the co-founder of Democracy Watch, said Liberals stressed government accountability as an election issue early on in the campaign while the other parties stuck to the economy.
READ MORE: Here’s what Trudeau’s promised and what he’ll face as prime minister
Among Trudeau’s election promises were calls for more transparency and accountability when he announced his platform. He also said he would end first-past-the-post voting and consult Canadians on a new electoral system with an aim to adopt proportional representation.
“You can promise anything you want. But if people think you are just the same old type of politician that baits them with false promises and runs politics and government the way that they have always be run, they are not going to believe you’re going to do anything on health care, the environment or anything else.”
Health care was a forgotten issue during the campaign and part of the reason was the three main parties failed to see it as defining issue, Conacher said.
“The interest groups were certainly trying to get it on the agenda. If the parties don’t highlight it, the media doesn’t usually cover it as the party leaders fill up the news cycle with their comments and counter comments,” he said.
Comments