The latest opinion poll results from the Corporate Research Associates indicate that throughout Atlantic Canada the provincial wings of the New Democratic Party have made significant gains.
You can read the rest of this article on The Huffington Post website here.
Yesterday, the Corporate Research Associates released their Atlantic Quarterly with the voting intentions results for the four Atlantic provinces. Their website appears to be down as of this writing, but when it is up and running again you can find the press releases here.
Let's get right into it, starting with Prince Edward Island.
The Progressive Conservatives are up 10 points to 35%, followed by the New Democrats at 13% (+2) and the Greens at 2%.
Undecideds number 40% of those polled, a very high result in province that is four months away from an election.
But Robert Ghiz has things well in hand, as 69% of the province is mostly or completely satisfied with his performance as leader. He is also the favourite person to be premier at 48%, followed by the PC's Olive Crane at 19% and the NDP's James Rodd at 5%.
The Progressive Conservatives win three seats (up three from the last projection, up one from current standing), while the New Democrats win two seats (a gain of two).
Aside from the return of the NDP to Charlottetown, this is generally the same election result as the province's previous vote.
Now on to Newfoundland & Labrador, the other province with an election coming up in October.
Though Kathy Dunderdale seems to be on the downswing, she is still comfortably ahead. Fully 71% are satisfied with her performance (a drop of 11 points) while 51% think she is best suited to be premier (down 13 points). The trend is not in her favour but she is a long way away from having her premiership threatened.
Yvonne Jones of the Liberals is favoured for the premiership by 16% (-2), while Lorraine Michael of the NDP's personal numbers are up nine points to 14%. The NDP's two seats wins at the federal level in the province appear to be having an effect.
The New Democrats win six seats, up five, and form the Official Opposition. This would be a first in Newfoundland. The Liberals win five seats, up four from February.
A more spirited opposition, perhaps, but another four years of PC rule in Newfoundland and Labrador appears on the horizon.
The NDP wave has also strengthened Darrell Dexter's position in Nova Scotia.
That is a huge shift for the Liberals, though Stephen McNeil's popularity hasn't been hurt as much. He is down six points to 20% for best premier, behind Darrell Dexter at 28% (+5) and Jamie Baillie at 21% (+8).
It isn't all roses for Dexter, however, as only 47% are satisfied with his performance as premier.
The Progressive Conservatives win 16 seats and form the Official Opposition, while the Liberals are reduced to seven seats.
However, Nova Scotia is not likely to have its next election until 2013. It could even be pushed to the spring of 2014.
New Brunswick is also three years away from the next election, but the province would give David Alward another majority if the vote had been held in May.
The People's Alliance is at 3%, while the Greens are down to 1%.
Fully 68% of New Brunswickers are satisfied with David Alward's performance, and he is the favourite to be premier of 39%. Another 15% think the next Liberal leader would be the best premier, while 14% (+8) chose the new NDP leader, Dominic Cardy.
The New Democrats win two seats and form the miniscule opposition, while the Liberals are shut out from the Legislative Assembly in Fredericton.
These four provinces show some significant trends. Though the gain in support in Prince Edward Island is insignificant, the New Democrats are up across the board. Their majority government in Nova Scotia looks safer, and the party could form the Official Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. They might even win a couple seats in PEI. That is a big shift on the East Coast
