Back in 2002, when he was leader of the Official Opposition, Stephen Harper decided to make himself persona non grata in Atlantic Canada. “There is a dependence in the region that breeds a culture of defeatism,” he infamously declared.
Atlantic Canada has long been known as a reliable bastion of support for the Liberal Party, which could be one reason why Mr. Harper – a conservative from the West – felt at liberty to trash-talk the place. But these days, Atlantic Canada is as fed up with the Liberals as Alberta is. A recent Angus Reid survey shows that only 21 per cent of Atlantic Canadians support the Liberals; in comparison, 43 per cent support the Conservatives. It’s just the latest poll showing deepening dissatisfaction with Justin Trudeau’s government and a steady lead for Pierre Poilievre’s Tories; in August, a Leger poll found 19-per-cent support for the Liberals, a mere 8 per cent for the NDP, and a remarkable 55 per cent for Conservatives. If the pattern holds, the region seems poised for a blue wave in the next election.
