Federal Conservatives see performance rating plunge in poll

Canadians' unhappiness with the federal government grew dramatically in 2013, judging by the results of a yearly poll released byNanosResearch and the Institute for Research on Public Policy.

When it comes to the performance of Stephen Harper's Conservatives, 56 per cent of those polled saidthey dida poor job in 2013. That compares to 33 per cent last year and 25 per cent in 2011.

"[The survey] completed in December 2013 showed its most dramatic shift," wrote the pollsters.

In the four questions asked in the poll, perceptions "have all taken a negative hit."

The polling firm and research institute have conducted the "Mood of Canada"poll every year since 2007.

Thequestions asked about:

• Performance of the government.
• Direction of the country.
• Federal-provincial relations.
• Canada's reputation abroad.

In each case, pollsters found that opinions this year weredecidedly more negative than they were last year.

Fifty-five per cent of those polled thought Canada was moving in the wrong direction compared to 28 per cent last year.

On the issue of Canada's reputation abroad, the year-to-year difference was the most pronounced. In 2012, only eight per cent thought Canada's reputation had not improved. This year it was 45 per cent.

For more in depth discussion and analysis of the results of this survey, tune in to Monday's edition ofPower &Politics at5 p.m. ETon CBC News Network.

Nanoscarried out the survey between Dec.14 and 16 of this year. About 1,000 Canadians were recruited by phone and given the survey online. The poll has amargin of error of 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.