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Stephen Harper Would Make The Best CEO, While Justin Trudeau Could Be A Good Babysitter: Study

Who'd You Rather?
CP/PC

Who'd you rather ... have as a CEO, a babysitter, or as someone who lends you money?

That about sums up the questions asked of Canadians as part of an Abacus Data study examining public perceptions of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.

The study, released Wednesday, asked respondents to play a sort of match game, in which they would link one of the leaders to a particular descriptor.

Out of all three leaders, Harper was tops when it came to financial decisions.

  • 47 per cent said he'd be best suited as the CEO of a big company
  • 46 per cent said he'd be the best person to give advice on investing your cash
  • 41 per cent said he'd be the best person to tap for career advice
  • 38 per cent said he'd be tops at negotiating a contract for you
  • 37 per cent said he'd be best at giving your kids advice about their future.

Mulcair was the first choice of Canadians (38 per cent) as someone who would lend you $100 if you required it. But he came a close second to Harper on negotiating a contract (35 per cent), giving career advice (36 per cent) and helping your kids figure out their future (33 per cent).

Trudeau, meanwhile, was the first choice on 10 descriptors, including:

  • 55 per cent see him as someone they'd most like to take a vacation with
  • 53 per cent would most trust him to pick a good movie
  • 47 per cent would want to hear him sing their favourite song
  • 44 per cent would most like him to watch their kids for them

Mulcair was seen by respondents as "compassionate and competent," Abacus chairman Bruce Anderson said in a news release, adding that they're "themes that he has been at pains to draw out since becoming leader of the NDP."

"Mr. Harper is seen as a solid choice when it comes to [some of the] key attributes that people look for when it comes to leadership, especially financial and management skills," Anderson said.

"At the same time, he is seen as less approachable and compassionate than his rivals."

The study was carried out online by 1,005 Canadians aged 18 and over between Jan. 26 and 28. It said the margin of error is +/- 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

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