Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 06, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a5 o Ottawa prime minister Stephen harpers stand Pat dont panic response to economic turmoil seems to have fallen Flat with voters sending the conservatives to their lowest support Levels of the Campaign according to a new poll. Its an apparent chink in the conservatives electoral Armour that opponents will try to exploit Over the final week of the Campaign. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion seized on it sunday saying Harper is in denial about Canadas economic Straits. He has no plan and continues with his Raissez Faire i dont care approach doing nothing to help Canada face the worsening economic situation in North America Dion said during a Campaign Stop in Iqaluit Nunavut. But although Harper is expected to finally unveil the conservative platform on tuesday a senior party spokesman indicated that the prime minister wont Spring any new last minute economic plan on voters. Nor will he change his message that Canada is Well positioned to ride out the global economic storm As Long As it maintains a steady hand at the Tiller. Harper will spend the week contrasting his modest achievable realistic platform with what the tory spokesman characterized As the grandiose risky schemes advocated by opposition parties. That will be bolstered by the part yes largest Ever direct mail Campaign warning voters against Dionys proposal to impose a Carbon tax. However the latest Canadian press Harris Decima rolling Survey suggests Harper would be Wise to bolster his own platform with assurances that he has a plan to ride out the economic maelstrom. With just Over a week to go until voting Day on oct. 14, the Survey pegged tory support at 34 per cent Down from an Early Campaign High of 41 per cent. Potentially More ominous for the tories who have based their Campaign almost entirely on the perceived strength of harpers leadership the prime ministers personal popularity has also dipped to a Campaign Low. Forty one per cent said they have a favourable impression of Harper Down 12 Points while 51 per cent had a negative impression. Forty per cent of respondents said their thinking about which party to support has been somewhat or greatly affected by last weeks Stock Market meltdown prompted by the financial crisis in the United states. Concern was most pronounced among those in Ontario and Quebec the country is manufacturing heartland. While the conservative trend line is heading Down As the parties move into the Home stretch the liberals Are trending up albeit still lagging Well behind the tories at 24 per cent support. In National support the nip was at 20 per cent. The Green party was at 13 per cent and the bloc Qutb Cois at eight per cent nationally and leading in Quebec with 33 per cent. The Canadian press Winnipeg repress. Com election 2008 Winnipeg free press monday october 6, 2008 a 5 200062 250908 do unit 12 584 Pembina Hwy. $ 20 00 off oct 6 oct 18/ 08 774 1219 wow. Foster shoes. Ca Fosters shoes since 1953 All shoes unit 12 584 Pembina Hwy. Foo care footwear week 1 866 492 2909 1300 Regent ave. W. Wow. Keystone Ford. Net plus free Laptop free Laptop below below below invoice All 2008 super duties huge Price drop 2008 f250 super Crew 4x4 Al tvs 18 Chrome wheel and running boards Power heated seats and much More from hurry offer ends oct. 8th $ 8000 St. # h87630 with Purchase of in Stock vehicle Only $ 35,676 $ 899 retail value things were getting mighty hairy this week for Liberal Leader Stephane Dion. On thursday unruffled prime minister Stephen Harper fended off attacks during the English language debate by opponents that his policies would Hurt the Economy. Then were some polls that continued to put the nip within spitting distance of the liberals and nip Leader Jack Layton had a Well reviewed performance in the English language debate. One poll even rated Green party Leader Elizabeth Mays performance As Superior to Dionys there putting him in fourth place behind first place Harper and second place Layton. The Bright spot at least Dionys supporters can say he scored High numbers in the French language debate wednesday. Harris Decima Canadian press question if a Federal election were being held tomorrow whom do you think you would be voting for in your area the Liberal party candidate the conservative party candidate the nip candidate or the Green party candidate conservatives 35% 38% liberals 22 23 nip 20 17 Green 13 12 bloc Qutb Cois 9 7 poll taken on oct. 4, percentage in brackets monday sept. 22 rolling Survey from four Days previous of about 1,250 Canadian voters with a margin of error of about 2.8 per cent 19 times out of 20. Itsos Reid can West news service poll question Overall who in your View is winning this English language debate is it Stephen Harper Stephane Dion Jack Layton Gilles Dueppe or Elizabeth May Harper 31% Layton 25 May 17 Dion 15 Dueppe 2 Survey on oct. 2 of 2,512 English speaking adults who watched the debate via Itsos Reidys National online panel. The Sample is drawn from a pre recruited panel of Over 12,000 voters and then statistically weighted to reflect that of the Canadian adult population. An unweighted probability Sample of this size with a 100 per cent response rate would have an estimated margin or error of 2.0 percentage Points 19 times out of 20. Angus Reid strategies question if you had to pick Only one Leader who do you think won the French language debate Harper 10% Layton 15 May 2 Dion 32 Dueppe 27 none 14 results of online Survey Between oct. 1 and 3, of a Sample of 1,635 adult canadians who saw the English language leaders debate and 429 adult canadians who saw the French language debate. The margin of error for both the English language and French language Sample is 2.2 per cent 19 times out of 20. The results were statistically weighted to reflect that of the Canadian adult population. Gabrielle. Giro Day @ free press. My. Ca St. Johns n. L. A warning from Bri taints most senior military commander that the Afghanistan War cannot be won and May Only be resolved through peace talks involving the Taliban validates the a Dps position on the conflict party Leader Jack Layton said sunday. Layton campaigning sunday in St. Johns said Brig. Gen. Mark Carleton Smiths assessment echoes the View of his party and Many voters who want Canadas troops out of the War ravaged country. Ism heartened by the words of this senior military commander who is adding his voice to those Many Many canadians and others around the world who believe that the prosecution of the continued War Effort has got to be changed Layton said. Defence minister Peter Mackay repeated the conservative governments position that any negotiations with the Taliban must be led by the afghan government. He said Layton was wrong to interpret Carleton Smiths opinion As support for the a Dps stance. Jacks off base As he is on so Many issues said Mackay who was also in St. Johns to Shore up support for the conservatives. Mackay did not say whether he agreed that the War in Afghanistan was unwinnable. John Manley who led a non partisan panel on Canadas current and future military role in Afghanistan said he a snot surprised by Carleton Smiths comments because the panel came to a similar conclusion in january. The Taliban movement is not a monolithic entity and there Are people behind the insurgency who can be persuaded there is a nonviolent Way to end the War Manley said. When you use decapitation As a method of persuasion its hard to find common ground with those people but we allow ourselves to go Down the Road of thinking thatus the Only group thatus out there Manley told ctr on sunday. There Are a lot that Are different from that and we need to build Bridges with them. Manley said members of nato and the United nations must be engaged emphasizing that pakistanis involvement in a settlement would be critical for peace to be lasting. Two years ago Layton was derided for suggesting there should be a dialogue with the Taliban. That prompted the conservatives to Label Layton Taliban Jack. The Canadian press nip was right about afghan War says Layton by Tara Brautigam by Gabrielle Giro Day Dion feeling the heat from Layton and May tories support Falls amid economic fears by Joan Bryden 59% of Winnipeg adults read a weekday edition of the Winnipeg free press. David Smith / can West news service prime minister Stephen Harper Speaks at a conservative rally in Moncton n. B., on saturday. A _ 05_ oct 06 08. Ind a5 1 0/ 6/ 08 12 06 14 am ;