Kevin O’Leary favoured for leader among card-carrying Conservatives

Peter MacKay preferred by all Canadians in total

TORONTO April 6th, 2016 In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1455 Canadian voters, the plurality among those with a choice for a leader see Peter MacKay as the best leader of the Conservative Party (18%), followed by those who opt for TV personality Kevin O’Leary (14%), who is in turn followed by current interim leader Rona Ambrose (10%). The list is rounded out by Maxime Bernier (9%), Jason Kenney and Lisa Raitt (6% each) and Dr. Kellie Leitch (2%). The largest single group thinks someone else not listed would make the best leader for the Conservatives (35%).

Among Conservative voters, however, Kevin O’Leary is very slightly preferred to MacKay (24% to 22%) while Rona Ambrose is third (17%). Among Conservatives, about one fifth prefer someone not listed (19%).

Finally, among those who are card-carrying members of the Conservative Party (and therefore will actually choose the leader), Kevin O’Leary is widely preferred to MacKay (28% to 20%) and no other listed candidate breaks double digits in preference. Among this select group, one quarter will support a candidate not listed here (24%).

“Kevin O’Leary’s star has been rising among Conservatives, and it’s happening in lockstep with the increasing popularity of Donald Trump in the US. Conservatives increasingly see a plain-talking populist as their saviour,” said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.

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.