So, I need to get this out of the way before we pass into the second half of February. Yes, it's the January best/worst case scenarios!
These best and worst case scenarios calculate each party's best and worst projection results in each region.
For example, if the Conservatives had their best result in the western provinces in an Angus-Reid poll, their best result in Ontario in a Nanos poll, their best result in Quebec in a Léger poll, and their best result in Atlantic Canada in an EKOS poll, I would take each of these bests and combine them. And the same goes for a worst case scenario.
In other words, these projections are the best and worst possible results each party could have gotten had an election taken place last month, based on the available polling data.
These best and worst case scenarios are in terms of total seats only, and not necessarily about how a party would fit in with the others in Parliament.
January did not have a lot of polling, so in all of these best and worst case scenarios the ranges have narrowed, rather than expanded in any direction.
Let's start with the New Democrats. Their best case scenario would put them at 36 seats, exactly where they currently are in the House of Commons. With 19.6% of the vote, they would win 11 seats in British Columbia, none in Alberta, five in the Prairies, 13 in Ontario, two in Quebec, and five in Atlantic Canada.
But in this scenario the Conservatives and Liberals win about the same amount of seats as they have now, so that means no real change.
Their worst case scenario would reduce them to only 18 seats. With 13.1% of the vote, they would win three seats in British Columbia, none in Alberta, two in the Prairies, 12 in Ontario, one in Quebec, and none in Atlantic Canada.
This puts the NDP range at between 13.1% and 19.6% of the vote, and between 18 and 36 seats. Their December range was 12.4% to 24.1% and 15 seats to 40 seats. So, January's worst is better, but it's best is worse.
For the Liberals, their best case scenario in January still keeps them out of power. They would win 110 seats, 12 fewer than the Tories. But with the NDP they could outnumber the Conservatives.
With 31.4% of the vote, the Liberals would win 12 seats in British Columbia, two in Alberta, seven in the Prairies, 45 in Ontario, 15 in Quebec, and 27 in Atlantic Canada.
Their worst case scenario, however, would peg them at 76 seats. With only 24.1% of the vote, the Liberals would win four seats in British Columbia, none in Alberta, one in the Prairies, 40 in Ontario, 12 in Quebec, and 17 in Atlantic Canada. The Conservatives would win 143 seats, giving them as many as they currently have in Parliament.
The Liberal range has changed little from January. It is now between 24.1% and 31.4% of the vote, whereas it was between 23.9% and 32.4% in December. For seats, it has gone from 68-110 to 76-110. It gives them a better floor, but an election could still be dangerous.
For the Conservatives, their best case scenario is another minority government. They could only have won 146 seats in January, three more than they currently hold. With 37.3% of the vote, they would win 23 seats in British Columbia, 28 in Alberta, 22 in the Prairies, 54 in Ontario, eight in Quebec, and 10 in Atlantic Canada. The opposition would be unlikely to oust the government in such a situation.
For their worst case scenario, the Conservatives would still win the plurality of seats: 122. With 32% of the vote, the Conservatives would win 18 seats in British Columbia, 26 in Alberta, 19 in the Prairies, 49 in Ontario, four in Quebec, and five in Atlantic Canada. The Liberals and NDP would together win more seats than the Tories.
The Conservative range has narrowed significantly, to between 32% and 37.3% of the vote. In December, it was between 30.6% and 41.8%. In terms of seats, the range has gone from 117-162 in December to 122-146 in January. It makes it a bit of a safer bet for the Conservatives.
But with recent polls, it appears that January was far more calm than February will turn out to be.
