Canadians support Justin Trudeau’s ‘bold’ Senate move: poll

It looks like Justin Trudeau's Senate gambit has paid off — at least if you base 'success' on public opinion.

On Wednesday, the Liberal leader announced that he had released all Liberal Senators from the party's national caucus.

"The Senate is broken, and needs to be fixed," he told reporters, unveiling his plan for the red chamber.

"At the same time, Canadians do not want to re-open the Constitution. They don’t want a long, rancorous, and likely pointless debate with the provinces that would distract us from focusing on more important problems. I have come to believe that the Senate must be non-partisan."

According to a new Angus Reid poll, a significant number of Canadians think his idea is a good one.

Predictably, the other parties instantly slammed the idea — the Tories called it a "smokescreen" suggesting that the timing of it was tied to the pending release of what could be a very damning Senate expense report by the Auditor General.

Pundits and analysts continue to wonder aloud if it will actually change the day to day proceedings of the red chamber.

And former Reform Party leader Preston Manning suggested that it was a weak move and challenged the Liberals to put forward an actual Senate reform bill.

But, as the survey shows — at least at this early stage — Canadians appreciate that Trudeau is taking some action on the Senate.

Moreover, it finally gives him a position on the Senate issue.

We now have three distinguishable positions by the three major parties. The NDP want to abolish the Senate. The Tories prefer reform through their Bill C-7, a controversial piece of legislation which would incline provinces to hold senatorial elections and impose a nine-year term limit for senators. And the Liberals want a non-partisan senate with senators appointed by an independent body.

So far, Trudeau's position seems to be a popular one.

[ Related: Justin Trudeau reportedly ‘furious’ at senators continuing to use the Liberal brand ]

The survey also uncovered some other interesting opinions about Canadians' views about Senate reform.

Q: How do you feel about the Senate?

- It should be abolished
- The Senate needs a massive overhaul and sweeping reforms: 48 per cent
- It could use some tinkering but the Senate functions okay: 14 per cent
- Leave the Senate alone and don't change anything: 3 per cent

Q: Whom do you trust the most to effectively deal with the Senate issues:

- Stephen Harper: 16 per cent
- Thomas Mulcair: 11 per cent
- Justin Trudeau: 23 per cent

Q: How much will the Senate debate be a factor for you in next year's federal election?

- A deciding factor: 5 per cent
- An important factor, but one of many: 51 per cent
- Not much of a factor, I'll be thinking about other issues: 29 per cent
- Not a factor at all: 14 per cent

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

Are you a politics junkie?
Follow @politicalpoints on Twitter!