Canadian Election Survey, 2000

This survey assessed Canadians' political attitudes and voting behavior prior to the 2000 federal election. The survey included three components: the Campaign-Period Survey (CPS), the Post-Election Survey (PES), and the Mail-Back Survey (MBS). Approximately 46 percent of the telephone numbers included in the CPS were completed for a total of 3,651 interviews. Seventy-eight percent, or 2,860 of the CPS respondents, completed the PES survey, and 1,517 of the PES respondents completed the MBS. The CPS respondents were queried on their voting intentions, interest in the election and its media coverage, whether parties/candidates had contacted them during the campaign, the state of the economy, knowledge of the parties and leaders, personal stances on major policy issues such as cutting taxes, maintaining social programs, and the possible separation of Quebec from Canada, assessment of the Liberal government, and electoral expectations. Specific questions on political actions and personal character were posed regarding Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Conservative Party Leader Jean Charest, New Democratic Party Leader Alexa McDonough, Reform Party Leader Preston Manning, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, Premier Lucien Bouchard, and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. The PES repeated many of the CPS questions, and addressed additional topics such as government spending, social issues including abortion, unions, businesses, education, health care, and capital punishment, Quebec separation, and attitudes toward social groups including big business, feminists, and aboriginal peoples. The MBS dealt with broader political issues and values, including the respondents' confidence in institutions, the distribution of power among various societal groups, and individual rights. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, ethnicity, political party, political orientation, voter participation history, education, marital status, religion, employment status, household income, union membership, country of birth, knowledge of Canadian political history, financial status, and disability status.