Poll: Canadians OK with five parties

OTTAWA, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- A majority of Canadian voters is content with having five federal parties on ballots in Tuesday's election, a poll published Monday said.

Of 1,203 voters polled by Nanos Research on behalf of the Rideau Institute, 60 percent indicated they are happy with the number of political parties, Rideau Program Director Anthony Salloum said in a release.

Tuesday's ballots will include candidates for the Conservatives, Liberals, New Democrats, and in some places, the Green Party. In Quebec, the separatist Bloc Quebecois party is also fielding candidates.

Meanwhile, 27 percent of respondents said they favor having fewer parties, the poll found.

"Interestingly, support for having fewer parties is highest among self-identified Conservative and Liberal voters, while Bloc, NDP and Green supporters are most happy with the status quo," said Salloum.

The poll was conducted Oct. 7-9, and has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points, the release said.