TORONTO – Barrie MP Patrick Brown has a six-point lead over rival Christine Elliot in the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership race, according to a new poll.
A survey released by Mainstreet Technologies Tuesday found that Brown has 47 per cent support with Elliot trailing at 41 per cent if the PC leadership vote was held today — 12 per cent of those polled were undecided.
However, the gap widens even further for Brown among decided voters only with the MP receiving 54 per cent support compared to Elliot at 46 per cent.
“With the PC leadership vote in the month ahead, Patrick Brown appears to have a significant lead among decided party members,” said Quito Maggi, president of Mainstreet Technologies, in a media release.
“Turnout will be very important to both candidates, especially so for Elliott who has the reported lower number of new memberships.”
Brown and Elliot are the only candidates left in the leadership race after Monte McNaughton dropped out last week.
The Lambton—Kent—Middlesex MPP has since lent his support behind Brown.
Meanwhile, the PCs (28 per cent) and the Liberals (27 per cent) are in a statistical dead heat with either Brown or Elliot as leader of the Tories.
The survey also asked respondents about the upcoming provincial budget with 51 per cent approving investments in infrastructure and public transit despite a $10 billion projected deficit.
The Mainstreet Technologies interactive voice response poll was conducted on April 9 among 2,376 respondents with a margin of error of +/- 2.01 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Mainstreet Technologies – Ontario Issues April by Mainstreet Technologies