Party leaders say they aren’t worried about polls at this point

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/04/2023 (935 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If there is one thing the leaders of Manitoba’s political parties agree on, it’s that they pay little heed to the results of public opinion polls.

Interviews with Progressive Conservative Premier Heather Stefanson, opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinew and Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont netted similar responses Saturday, with all three snubbing a recent Probe Research poll.

“I frankly don’t put a lot of credence in the polls and what they say out there,” Stefanson said, speaking from the Manitoba Legislative Building after a Sikh Heritage Month event.

The Free Press commissioned the survey, which Probe conducted between March 8-20.

Based on the results, the Manitoba New Democratic Party held 44 per cent of the decided vote, the Tories garnered 38, and the Liberals had 9 per cent.

Results from a similar poll in December revealed the Tories closed the gap on the NDP by five points, while the Liberals had fallen from 13 per cent.

Stefanson said it changes nothing for her party’s approach to the upcoming election, which is slated for Oct. 3.

“It’s really not on my radar at all,” she said. “I’m more concerned about what Manitobans are saying and what Manitobans are thinking and… wanting us to do. That, of course, is what drives what we do each and every day.”

Heading into election season, the Tories are focused implementing their recently tabled provincial budget, Stefanson said.

Speaking after the same event, Kinew said much of the same.

“The only poll that matters is the one that’s held on election day. I think it’s very clear that everyone in Manitoba wants a change,” Kinew said. “We’ve got to help the average person out.”

The NDP will focus on health-care solutions as it ramps up its campaign for the upcoming election, something Kinew called “an overwhelming priority for everybody in Manitoba.”

He said the party also plans to address the cost of living.

Lamont, who spent Saturday afternoon presenting the Manitoba Liberals platform during the party’s annual general meeting at the Best Western Airport Hotel, spoke to the Free Press by phone after the event.

He said “people were really excited and proud,” about the platform, which outlines how the party would address issues ranging from crime rates, health care wait times and nutritional programs for public school students.

Like his political counterparts, he balked at the Probe results.

“Campaigns always matter more than polls and I’ve never seen a poll like that end up predicting what happened,” Lamont said. “If we actually take democracy seriously, it’s really important to look at the positions people are taking because… that actually tells you what people are going to do in government.”

One of the Liberals primary focuses in the upcoming election will be improving reconciliation, Lamont said.

Lamont went on to say his party is optimistic going into the provincial election.

Results from an Abacus Data poll released in February estimated the Conservative, Liberal and NDP parties held 30 per cent, 24 per cent and 15 per cent of national support, respectively.

The remaining 30 per cent of votes were spread to Canada’s other political parties.

The survey collected responses from 4,000 Canadians.

Lamont said what becomes of the federal Liberal party should have no bearing on what happens to the Manitoba Liberals.

“Only Manitobans get to tell Manitobans what to do,” he said.

The next federal election may not take place until 2025.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca