Budget fails to quell criticisms of Prime Minister, poll suggests

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA — Canadians say Stephen Harper was motivated by political survival and would never have unveiled this week's multibillion-dollar stimulus budget were it not for opposition pressure.

A new Globe and Mail-CTV poll also found that, despite moderate support for the budget, most Canadians continue to hold Mr. Harper responsible for the crisis atmosphere that prompted it and believe he hasn't fundamentally changed.

“Canadians think Harper has done this with a gun to his head,” said Peter Donolo, a partner with the Strategic Counsel, the firm that conducted the poll. “They feel this wouldn't have happened had the opposition not held his feet to the fire.”

When asked to name the top three beneficiaries of the budget, large corporations showed up most often. Poor Canadians and older/retired Canadians were seen as those benefiting the least.

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