However, it isn't all roses for Michael Ignatieff's party. The Liberals have nevertheless dropped 0.2 points to 29.2%. The Conservatives are also down 0.2, to 33.2%.The NDP are this update's winners, gaining 0.2 points nationally to reach 16.4%. The Greens are up 0.1 points to 10.2%.
The Conservatives have moved up and down depending on the region. Their seats losses come in Ontario and the North. In Ontario, the party is down one seat and 0.3 points to 35.5%. In the North, they are down 0.1 points to 30.0% and zero seats. Their biggest gain comes in Alberta, where that have gained 0.4 points to reach 58.8%. They are also up 0.2 points in Atlantic Canada (31.3%) and 0.1 points in British Columbia (35.8%). They are down 0.1 points in the Prairies (46.8%).
The Liberals were also up and down. They gained 0.4 points in the Prairies (21.7%) but were steady or down everywhere else. They were stable (36.4%) in Ontario, where they picked up a seat, and in Atlantic Canada (36.9%). They dropped 0.1 points in the North (33.4%) but nevertheless gained a seat. They were down 0.3 points in British Columbia (24.6%), 0.5 points and one seat in Quebec (24.3%), and 0.7 points (17.2%) in Alberta.
The NDP gained 0.4 points in Quebec (11.7%) as well as a seat. They were up 0.4 points in British Columbia (25.8%) and 0.3 points in Ontario (16.3%). They gained 0.1 points in the North (27.1%) and were stable in Alberta (10.8%) and Atlantic Canada (23.9%). They dropped 0.3 points in the Prairies (22.8%).
The Bloc Québécois made a small 0.1 point gain in Quebec, where they have a large lead at 38.0%.
The Greens were up 0.2 points in Alberta (10.2%) and 0.1 points in the North (8.5%). They were stable in Ontario (10.3%) and dropped 0.1 points in the Prairies (7.2%) and Quebec (7.5%). They dropped 0.2 points in Atlantic Canada (6.2%) and British Columbia (11.8%).
The New Democrats should be all smiles with this update, as they have picked up a seat and made important gains in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. Their only worry should be in the Prairies, where they could be doing much better.
The Bloc can also be happy with their steady-as-she-goes performance, and the Greens were relatively stable.
It's more of a mixed result for the Liberals. Yes, they gained a seat in the North and in Ontario, but lost one in Quebec. They made a gain in the Prairies and are stable, and leading, in Ontario, but the drops in British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec are significant.
For the Conservatives, this was not a good 24 days. Their only large gain was in Alberta, where they are completely safe anyway. The loss in Ontario, and the inability to claw back up in Quebec, are troublesome. And the loss of two seats is certainly bad news.
There are two major stories in Canadian politics today. The first involves the problems the Conservatives are having with their ousted cabinet minister and the turmoil over Afghan detainees. The other involves Jean Charest and allegations of corruption in Quebec. The former has the potential to drag the Conservatives down nationally, while the latter has the potential to boost the Bloc and hurt both the federal Liberals and the Conservatives.
But whether this potential turns into anything concrete remains to be seen.
