Canada's ruling Conservative party is widening its lead over major rival Liberal party, gaining 9 more percentage points than the Liberals in a new poll. The Decima Research poll, made available to the Canadian Press, showed Stephen Harper's Conservatives held 36 percent support nationally, similar to the numbers they gained during the last election over a year ago. Support for the Liberals fell to 27 percent, well below the mid- 30s the party held shortly after electing Stephane Dion leader in December. The survey of just over 1,000 Canadians was conducted between Feb. 22 and Feb. 26, suggesting the Green party continues to show momentum across Canada, with 13 percent support nationally, tied with the NDP for the first time in Decima's polling.
The Bloc Quebecois, which runs only in the Quebec province, recorded 35 percent support in the province. In an average of the last three weekly polls, the Conservatives have 33 percent, the Liberals 30 percent, the NDP 14 percent, the Bloc nine percent and the Greens 11 percent. The Conservative government is facing a confidence vote when it tables the budget on March 19. If the budget cannot pass, a new election will have to take place.