Canadians willing to forgive politicians their past vices
Author: Canadian Press, Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC), 10-24-05


MONTREAL (CP) -- Canadians appeared to be fairly relaxed about any vices their politicians may have indulged in -- but only up to a point, suggests a new public opinion poll.

The Leger Marketing survey conducted Sept. 13-16 found that only 26 per cent of Canadians would have refused to vote for a politician who had smoked marijuana.

But a large majority, 75 per cent, would have withheld their vote from a politician who had taken hard drugs like cocaine or heroin.

The poll was taken in the wake of a Quebec politician's admission he had used cocaine during his early years in office.

Parti Quebecois leadership hopeful Andre Boisclair's popularity appeared to increase among PQ faithful after the confession.

Voters took the strongest stand against hard drugs in Alberta, where 85 per cent said it would be a deal breaker, followed by Ontario at 82 per cent. It was lowest in Quebec at 53 per cent, although that still represents a majority of voters and could be bad news for Boisclair.

More Canadian voters said they were more likely to reject a politician with an alcohol problem than one who had smoked a joint. Thirty-nine per cent said they would not vote for a former alcoholic.

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