Among Canadian Farmers: Conservatives 60%, Liberals 23%, NDP 7%, Bloc Quebecois 6% (44% in Quebec), Green Party 2%

‘UNITE THE RIGHT’ CAMPAIGN EFFECTIVE: CANADIAN FARMERS WOULD ELECT A CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT

More Than Twice As Many Farmers Believe That The Conservative Party Will Be The Most Helpful In Meeting The Needs Of The Agricultural Community

Farm Economics Are Top Issues Among Canadian Farmers: Addressing The BSE Crisis And Opening The U.S. Border To Canadian Cattle Should Be The Top Priority For The New Federal Government

Agribusiness, Food and Animal Health Public Release Date: June 17th, 2004 at 7:00 a.m. (EDT)

Ipsos-Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader and the country’s leading provider of public opinion research. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos-Reid employs more than 300 researcher professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in Canada, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and on-line panels. Ipsos- Reid’s Canadian marketing research and public affairs practices are staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, offering the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada—including the Ipsos Trend Report, the leading source of public opinion in the country—all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Ipsos-Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group. To learn more, visit www.ipsos.ca

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‘UNITE THE RIGHT’ CAMPAIGN EFFECTIVE: CANADIAN FARMERS WOULD ELECT A CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT

Among Canadian Farmers: Conservatives 60%, Liberals 23%, NDP 7%, Bloc Quebecois 6% (44% in Quebec), Green Party 2%

More Than Twice As Many Farmers Believe That The Conservative Party Will Be The Most Helpful In Meeting The Needs Of The Agricultural Community Over The Liberals

Farm Economics Are Top Issues Among Canadian Farmers: Addressing The BSE Crisis And Opening The U.S. Border To Canadian Cattle Should Be The Top Priority For The New Federal Government

Winnipeg, MB – A new Ipsos-Reid poll conducted for CTV and The Globe and Mail released this morning for Canada AM indicates that farmers in Canada want a Conservative federal government. If an election were held tomorrow the survey shows that a majority (60%) of Canadian farmers would vote Conservative. Without a split vote between the Alliance (33%) and Progressive Conservatives (22%) that existed in the Federal Election in 2000 (combined 55%), this solid voice for a Conservative vote will likely carry with it greater impact in this close fought election.

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid Agribusiness, Food and Animal Health Farm Trends poll conducted between June 1st and June 3rd, 2004. For the telephone survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1000 Canadian farming households was interviewed. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within ±3.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they

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would have been had the entire Canadian farming population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure the sample's regional and farm size composition, in terms of annual farm sales, and reflects that of the actual Canadian farming population according to the 2001 Census data.

Among Canadian Farmers: Conservatives 60%, Liberals 23%, NDP 7%, Bloc Quebecois 6% (44% in Quebec), Green Party 2%…

If the vote were held tomorrow, the Conservative Party would receive the support of 60% of decided farm voters in Canada, and the Liberals would be a distant second with 23% of the decided voters’ support. Support for the NDP sits at 7% among farmers, with the Bloc Quebecois close behind at 6% nationally (44% in Quebec). The Green Party gathers support from 2% of farm voters and 2% would vote for some “other” party. One in five farmers overall (19%) are undecided or would not vote if an election were held tomorrow.

Based on their recollections as to how they voted in the 2000 election campaign and compared to how they feel today, farmer support for the Liberals has dropped 9 percentage points since that time (32% of decided farm voters in 2000 vs. 23% of decided farm voters currently). It would appear that the majority of these Liberal votes have gone to the new Conservative party (60% of decided farm voters currently vs. 55% of decided farm voters in 2000 -- 33% Canadian Alliance plus 22% Progressive Conservatives). As a result, the governing Liberals can no longer rely on a split right vote to offset traditionally low support from Canadian farmers.

Meanwhile, support for the NDP is holding steady among Canadian farmers at 7% of the decided vote. And, with strong support from Quebec farmers (44% of decided farm voters in that province), the Bloc Quebecois has gained one point to sit at 6% nationally. The Green Party is also up one point with 2% of the decided vote among farmers.

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• The Conservatives would receive the strongest support from Alberta (77% of decided voters), followed by Manitoba (72%). Nearly two-thirds of farmers in the remaining Western Provinces would also vote Conservative (63% in both British Columbia and Saskatchewan). The Conservatives would garner 56% of the decided farm voters in Ontario.

• Conservative support is lowest in Quebec (22%), where farmers support the Bloc Quebecois (44%) by a two to one margin. The Liberals are a distant second in Quebec with the support of 27% of decided farm voters, 5 points ahead of the Conservatives. The farm vote is virtually split in the Atlantic Provinces, with 46% of decided farm voters supporting the Conservatives and 44% the Liberals.

• Farmers in some provinces, most notably in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, appear to be punishing the Liberals for recent scandals. The Liberal party has lost nearly half their supporters in Quebec, dropping to 27% support from the 52% of the decided farm voters they enjoyed in the 2000 election. In Ontario, Liberal support is down 18 points, to 35% from 53% in 2000. The Liberals have lost a quarter of their supporters in Manitoba since the 2000 election (down to 21% from 28% in 2000). Most of these former Liberal votes are now going to the Conservative party.

More Than Twice As Many Farmers Believe That The Conservative Party Will Be The Most Helpful In Meeting The Needs Of The Agricultural Community Over The Liberals (44% vs. 20%)… When it comes to the crucial issue of which party and leader farmers feel would be most helpful in meeting the needs of farmers and the agricultural community, farmers appear to be less confident in the Conservative party, although they do believe Stephen Harper and the

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Conservatives are the way to go. Forty-four percent of farmers polled felt that the Conservatives would best be able to address farm issues, followed by the Liberals at 20%. A quarter of farmers (23%) feel that none of the major federal parties would be best to address these issues (14%) or are unsure of which party would be best (9%).

• Seventy-one percent of farmers that intend to vote for the Liberals have faith that this is also the best party to address the needs of farmers.

• Seventy-seven percent of the farmers supporting the Conservative party believe the Conservatives are the best able to help meet the needs of farmers.

• One in ten farmers voting for either the Conservatives (10%) or the Liberals (9%) believe that none of the major parties are best suited to help meet the needs of the agricultural community.

Farm Economics Are Top Issues Among Canadian Farmers: Addressing The BSE Crisis And Opening The U.S. Border To Canadian Cattle Should Be The Top Priority For The New Federal Government… Farm economics are top-of-mind for farmers when considering the issues for the federal government to address. The number one issue farmers believe the incoming federal government needs to address immediately upon gaining power is the BSE crisis and opening the U.S. border to exports of Canadian cattle. More than a third of farmers (35%) feel this is the top issue and 42% list it as one of the top two issues for the new government to address. Other concerns that Canadian farmers feel need to be addressed include the survival of the family farm (21% top issue), which takes into account pressure from markets and increased input costs (13% top issue) and the need for farm income support (7% top issue), and

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international trade issues (10% top issue). Healthcare (5% top issue) and fiscal responsibility (4% top issue) are also top-of-mind for farmers, but not nearly as much as farm economics.

Trends In The Regions… In the Atlantic Provinces…

The race for support in the Atlantic Provinces is tight. A virtual split of the vote between the Conservatives (46%) and the Liberals (44%) could leave either party out entirely. Farmers in this region appear to be dissatisfied with the numerous scandals the Liberal party has faced of late. Liberal support has fallen by 9 points while the Conservatives have gained 5 points since the 2000 election. Support for the NDP has risen 2 points to sit at 8% and the Green Party has made good in-roads to gather support from 2% of decided farm voters. Farm economics are the issue of the day for Atlantic farmers and they give the Liberals a slight edge over the Conservatives in terms of their ability to meet the needs of farmers (35% Liberal support versus 32% Conservative support).

In Quebec…

Survival of the family farm is the top issue Quebec farmers feel should be addressed (30% top issue) by the incoming federal government, followed by addressing the BSE crisis and opening the U.S. border to Canadian cattle exports (18% top issue). Farmers believe that the Bloc Quebecois and the Liberals would be the most helpful in meeting these needs, each with the support of 25% of Quebec farmers. The Conservatives sit third, with 20% of farmers feeling they would best be able to meet agricultural needs in the province. The massive loss of support the Liberals are experiencing in Quebec is coming from a desire for something new. Many non-Bloc voting farmers are tired of supporting the Liberals and want to give the Conservatives a chance.

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In Ontario…

With the Conservatives and Liberals running so close in the general public, the farm vote in Ontario is extremely important and all the momentum right now is with the Conservatives. Farmers in Ontario are punishing the Liberals and throwing their support behind the united Conservative party. Liberal support in that province has dropped dramatically (18 points to sit at 35%), with a third of the Liberal supporters from 2000 turning to other parties. The Conservatives are the biggest gainers overall, rising 12 points from the last election to command the support of 56% of Ontario farmers. The NDP is gaining support from Ontario farmers as well, rising 5 points over their 2000 levels to sit at 6% of decided voters. Ontario farmers are disillusioned with the federal parties overall. A third (32%) of them say that either none of the federal parties could best meet the needs of the agricultural community (16%) or that they don’t know which party would be the best able to do so (16%).

In Manitoba…

Manitoban farmers clearly support the Conservative Party; 72% of the decided farm voters throw their support in with the Conservatives, 11 points above the 2000 levels. Support for all the other major parties has dropped since 2000 in this province, with the Liberals losing 7 points to now sit with the support of 21% of decided farm voters and the NDP losing almost half their support, dropping 5 points to sit at 6% of decided voters (compared to 11% in 2000). There appears to be a backlash against the left in Manitoba.

In Saskatchewan…

Voters in Saskatchewan are the most stable in their support. The Conservative Party would get the most votes with 63% of farmers choosing them, no change from the 2000 election. Support for the Liberals has decreased by 3 points to sit at 16% of decided farm voters and

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the NDP has seen a drop of 4 points to gather support from 13% of farmers. The figures don’t change much when we consider the question of which party is best able to meet the needs of farmers. Nearly half (45%) feel the Conservatives would be the best, while one in five (17%) think the Liberals and one in eight (13%) feel the NDP would be the best. More than a third (35%) of Saskatchewan farmers feel that survival of the family farm is the number one issue that needs to be dealt with by the new federal government.

In Alberta…

The Liberals have done a good job responding to the issues raised by Alberta farmers and are rewarded with a 6 point increase in support, climbing to 15% of decided voters. This is still very far behind the 77% support farmers throw behind the Conservatives, but does show that some farmers are responding to Liberal efforts to address the BSE crisis, which remains the number one issue farmers in Alberta feel should be addressed by the new federal government. Half (48%) of Alberta farmers give this a number one rank. Support for the Conservatives has dropped 10 points in Alberta from the 87% support farmers gave the Reform Party and Progressive Conservatives, combined, in the 2000 election.

In British Columbia…

Farmers in British Columbia are disenchanted with the Liberals. Support for the Liberal Party has dropped 14 points from 2000 to now sit at 20% of decided farm voters. The Conservatives have gained most of these votes, now sitting at 63% of farmers, up from 54% in 2000. The Green Party has gained a lot of attention among farmers in B.C., getting 6% of the decided voters. While support for the NDP is only up 1 point to sit at 11%, more farmers believe they are the best suited to meet the needs of the Agriculture community (14%). Overall, farmers believe the Conservatives will be best at addressing farmer needs (39%).

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For more information on this news release, please contact: Curtis Johnson Senior Vice President Ipsos-Reid Agribusiness, Food and Animal Health (204) 949-3110 For full tabular results, please visit our website at www.ipsos.ca. News Releases are available at http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/

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