Mixed messages in Canadian leaders poll

OTTAWA, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A poll of voters on Canada's three national political leaders published Thursday indicates an odd mix for each in approval and disapproval ratings.

As for approval, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper led with 36 percent support among 2,985 people polled by EKOS for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

The Socialist New Democratic Party's Jack Layton was second at 34 percent and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff third with 29 percent job approval support.

The poll, taken Aug. 5-11, also asked respondents to rank the leaders by disapproval. It showed Harper's disapproval rating has declined since January while Ignatieff's has risen, the CBC said.

Harper was given a 47 percent disapproval rating on his performance, while Ignatieff's nearly doubled since January to 37 percent. Layton was given a 33 percent disapproval rating.

The poll found Harper's net standing from January was down 11 percent while Ignatieff's was down 9 percent.

The poll has a 1.8 percentage point margin of error, the pollster said.