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1
Attitudes Towards Leadership and
Institutions Presentation to a roundtable
discussion entitled Empowering the People's
House the Role of MLAs and the
Legislature Co-sponsored by The New Brunswick
Commission on Legislative Democracy and the
Canadian Unity Council March 2004
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2
Confidence in Leaders
Can you tell me if you have a great deal of
confidence, some, not very much, or no confidence
at all in each of the following a) Political
leaders, b) Business Leaders, c) Religious
leaders, d) Military leaders, e) Leaders of
environmental groups, f) Leaders of groups that
protest against free trade and globalization?
www.cric.ca
Portraits 2002
3
Confidence in Leaders (By Age Group) Figures
Show Results for A Great Deal / Some Confidence
Can you tell me if you have a great deal of
confidence, some, not very much, or no confidence
at all in each of the following a) Political
leaders, b) Business Leaders, c) Religious
leaders, d) Military leaders, e) Leaders of
environmental groups, f) Leaders of groups that
protest against free trade and globalization?
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Portraits 2002
4
Confidence in Leaders (1983 - 2002)Figures Show
Results for A Lot / Some Confidence or A Great
/ Some Confidence
1983-1995 Can you tell me if you have a lot of
confidence, some confidence, little confidence or
no confidence at all in the following persons or
organizationspolitical leaders religious
leaders business leaders. Source Environics
Focus Canada / Canadian Opinion Research Archive,
Queens University. 2002 Can you tell me if you
have a great deal of confidence, some, not very
much, or no confidence at all in each of the
following political leaders religious leaders
business leaders. Source CRIC, Portraits of
Canada, 2002.
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Portraits 2002
5
Confidence in Political Leaders
Can you tell me if you have a great deal of
confidence, some, not very much, or no confidence
at all in each of the following Political Leaders
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Portraits 2002
6
Confidence in Leaders Great Deal or Some
Confidence
Can you tell me if you have a great deal of
confidence, some, not very much, or no confidence
at all in each of the following a) Political
leaders, b) Business Leaders, c) Religious
leaders, d) Military leaders, e) Leaders of
environmental groups, f) Leaders of groups that
protest against free trade and globalization?
www.cric.ca
Portraits 2002
7
Confidence in the House of Commons and Political
Parties Figures Show Results for A Great Deal /
Quite a Lot of Confidence
Im going to read a list of institutions in
Canadian society. Would you tell me how much
respect and confidence you, yourself, have in
each onea great deal, quite a lot, some or very
littleThe House of Commons. Source Gallup
polls, as quoted in George Perlin and Andrew
Parkin, Canadian Politics (Toronto Oxford
University Press, forthcoming).
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8
Does the Government Care?
Source for 1968, Canadian Election Study --
question I dont think that the government
cares much about what people like me think
(agree or disagree) Source for 2001 CRIC
survey on Trade, Globalization and Canadian
Values question I dont think that
governments care very much what people like me
think (strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat
disagree, strongly disagree). Note this chart
shows responses for those 21 years old and over
only, since the 1968 survey did not contact
respondents younger than 21 years of age.
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9
Leadership Honesty Ethical Standards
Generally, how would you rate the honesty and
ethical standards of the following leaders these
days? Would you give them a very high rating, a
high rating, a low rating, or a very low rating
for honesty and ethical standards? a) Political
leaders, b) Heads of major companies, c)
Religious leaders?
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Portraits 2002
10
Honesty and Ethical Standards of Political Leaders
Generally, how would you rate the honesty and
ethical standards of the following leaders these
days? Would you give them a very high rating, a
high rating, a low rating, or a very low rating
for honesty and ethical standards? Political
Leaders
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Portraits 2002
11
Leadership Honesty Ethical Standards New
Brunswick Only
Generally, how would you rate the honesty and
ethical standards of the following leaders these
days? Would you give them a very high rating, a
high rating, a low rating, or a very low rating
for honesty and ethical standards? a) Political
leaders, b) Heads of major companies, c)
Religious leaders?
www.cric.ca
Portraits 2002
12
Trust in Governments to Protect Important Programs
Which government do you trust more to protect the
programs you care about? Is it a) The federal
government b) The government of your
province/territory c) Both equally d) Neither
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Portraits 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003
13
Trust in Governments to Protect Important
ProgramsBy Region
Which government do you trust more to protect the
programs you care about? Is it a) The federal
government b) The government of your
province/territory c) Both equally d) Neither
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Portraits 2003
14
Do Political Leaders Tell the Truth and Keep
Their Promises?
Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or
strongly disagree with each of the following
statements? Most Political Leaders do not tell
the truth or keep their promises
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Portraits 2002
15
Are Political Parties Disconnected From Voters?
Are traditional political parties more
disconnected from the concerns of average
voters today than they used to be, or not?
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Portraits 2002
16
Leadership An Assessment
Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or
strongly disagree with each of the following
statements a) Political leaders often look bad
because the news media focus their attention on
the mistakes they make rather than the things
that they do right c) In recent years, the job
that political leaders have to do has become much
more difficult e) On the whole, the politicians
who are elected in my area do a good job of
serving the interests of my community.
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Portraits 2002
17
Local Politicians Serving Voters Interest?
Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or
strongly disagree with each of the following
statements? On the whole, the politicians who
are elected in my area do a good job of serving
voters interest
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Portraits 2002
18
The Job of Political Leaders
Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or
strongly disagree with each of the following
statements? In recent years, the job that
political leaders have to do has become much more
difficult
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Portraits 2002
19
The Media and Politics
Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or
strongly disagree with each of the following
statements? Political leaders often look bad
because the news media focus their attention on
the mistakes they make rather than the things
they do right
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Portraits 2002
20
Can Public Opposition Make the Government Change
its Mind?
Suppose a government wanted to pass a law that
some people strongly opposed. If many of these
people brought their concerns to the attention of
the government by contacting their elected
representatives, do you think that there is a
good chance that the government would change its
mind, or do you think that there is really
nothing that people can do to get the government
to change its mind?
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Portraits 2002
21
Party Leaders

• In politics, people from different regions and
  groups often hold different views. Of the
  following two views, which do you think is
  better?
• A party leader should stand firm for what he or
  she believes, even if that makes it harder to get
  things done
• A party leader should be prepared to cooperate
  with people from other regions and groups, even
  if that means compromising some beliefs

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Portraits 2002
22
Trust and Confidence in Each Level of Government
Overall, how much trust and confidence do you
have in the federal government / your provincial
state government / your local government to do
a good job in carrying out its responsibilities?
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Can-US Comparative Federalism 2002
23
Trust and Confidence in Federal and Provincial
Governments( saying they have a great deal or a
fair amount)
? US ?
? Canada ?
Overall, how much trust and confidence do you
have in the federal government / your provincial
state government to do a good job in carrying
out its responsibilities?
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Can-US Comparative Federalism 2002
24
Role Models for Young People
Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or
strongly disagree with each of the following
statements? I worry that young people today have
no good leaders or role models to look up to
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Portraits 2002
25
For Further Information
Gina Bernard CRIC Research 449 Sussex Drive,
2nd Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6Z7 Tel (613)
247-8686 gbernard_at_cucweb.ca
www.cric.ca