Trudeau, Prime Minister of the Century

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TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER OF THE CENTURY

– PIERRE ELLIOT TRUDEAU IS THE BEST PRIME MINISTER OF THE CENTURY ACCORDING TO A PLURALITY (43%) OF CANADIANS – -- Followed by Lester Pearson (13%), John Diefenbaker (12%), Jean Chretien (8%), William Lyon Mackenzie King (7%), Brian Mulroney (6%) and Sir Wilfrid Laurier (5%) --

This Angus Reid Group/Globe and Mail/CTV poll was conducted by telephone between December 9th and December 19th, 1999. A total of 1,501 Canadian adults were surveyed.

These data are statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age and sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population. With a sample of this size, the overall results are within ±2.5 percentage points (19 times out of 20) of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. Page 1

TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER OF THE CENTURY

As Canadians reflect on their leadership in the twentieth century, Pierre Elliot Trudeau is named the “best Prime Minister” of Canada by a plurality (43%) of Canadians. Canadians were asked to choose from a list of Prime Ministers who served our country for a minimum of one four-year term in office. The percentage of Canadians who chose another of our country’s top leaders are the following: Lester Pearson (13%), John Diefenbaker (12%), Jean Chrétien (8%), William Lyon Mackenzie King (7%), Brian Mulroney (6%) and Sir Wilfrid Laurier (5%).

These are the findings of an Angus Reid Group/Globe and Mail/CTV poll conducted between December 9th and December 19th, 1999. The poll includes a randomly selected sample of 1,501 Canadian adults and has an associated margin of error of ± 2.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20.

Pierre Elliot Trudeau Is The Best Prime Minister Of The Century According To A Plurality (43%) Of Canadians A plurality (43%) of Canadians say Pierre Elliot Trudeau is the “best Prime Minister” of the twentieth century. ♦ More than four in ten in all of the regions of Canada named Prime Minister Trudeau as the best of the twentieth century with the exception of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (33%). ♦ Canadians aged 35 to 54 (50%) are more likely than younger Canadians aged 18 to 34 (42%) and those over 55 years of age (34%) to name Trudeau as the best Prime Minister of the century. ♦ Canadians with higher levels of education (university, 48%; some post-secondary, 44%; high school or less, 37%) are more likely to award Trudeau with the honour of being the Page 2 best Canadian Prime Minister as are Canadians with higher household incomes (>$60k, 46%; $30k to $59k, 44%; <$30k, 39%).

Lester Pearson (13%), John Diefenbaker (12%), Jean Chretien (8%), William Lyon Mackenzie King (7%), Brian Mulroney (6%) and Sir Wilfrid Laurier (5%) The percentage of Canadians who believe another of Canada’s top leaders are the best that Canada has had in the twentieth century include the following: Lester Pearson (13%), John Diefenbaker (12%), Jean Chrétien (8%), William Lyon Mackenzie King (7%), Brian Mulroney (6%) and Sir Wilfrid Laurier (5%). ♦ Lester Pearson receives his highest levels of support from British Columbians (18%), Canadians aged 55 or older (21%), the university educated (16%), and Canadians with high household incomes (15%). ♦ Saskatchewan/Manitoba residents (29%) have not forgotten the political career of John Diefenbaker, as they are more likely to name him as the twentieth century’s best Prime Minister. Canadians who are 55 or older (20%), those who have less than a high school education (20%) are also more likely than the national average (12%) to choose Prime Minister Diefenbaker as Canada’s best Prime Minister of the twentieth century. ♦ Jean Chrétien is more frequently chosen as the country’s best Prime Minister by Canadians aged 18 to 34 (13%) and Canadians who have a high school diploma (15%) or less (10%). ♦ Quebecers (11%) are slightly more likely than the national average (6%) to say that Brian Mulroney is the best Prime Minister that Canada has had during the twentieth century.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

John Wright Senior Vice-President Angus Reid Group (416) 324-2900