The Prince Edward Island (PEI) Liberals continue to enjoy a wide lead over other provincial parties and are the preferred party by a wide margin, according to the most recent survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc.

Specifically, approximately two-thirds of decided voters support the PEI Liberal Party this quarter (64%, compared with 58% in May 2016), while backing for the Progressive Conservative Party stands at 19 percent (compared with 20%). Meanwhile, one in ten support the New Democratic Party (8%, compared with 7%), while a similar number prefer the Green Party (9%, as compared to 16%).

One in six Islanders are undecided (15%, compared with 16%), while seven percent refuse to state a preference (compared with 4%), and six percent either support none of the parties or do not plan to vote (compared with 5%).

With regards to government satisfaction, two-thirds of PEI residents (65%, compared with 64% three months ago) are satisfied. Meanwhile, three in ten (29%, compared with 30%) are dissatisfied and the number of residents who do not offer a definite opinion stands at five percent (compared with 6%).

In terms of leader preference, under one-half of PEI residents offer their support for Premier Wade MacLauchlan this quarter (46%, up from 38% in February 2016). Meanwhile, preference for interim leader Jamie Fox of the PC Party is stable (11%, compared to 13%), while support for Peter Bevan-Baker of the Green Party rests at 22 percent (compared with 27%), and five percent (compared with 7%) back Mike Redmond of the NDP. Meanwhile, four percent (compared with 6%) prefer none of these leaders, while one in ten (12%, compared with 9%) are undecided or do not offer an opinion.

These results are part of the CRA Atlantic Quarterly^®, an independent telephone survey of Atlantic Canadians, and are based on a sample of 301 adult Prince Edward Islanders, conducted August 9 to August 31, 2016 with overall results accurate to within ± 5.6 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times.