By large margins, the CEOs and business leaders on the COMPAS business panel believe that the proposed Stephane Dion-led coalition would be worse for the economy. That is the key finding from interviews completed December 4, 2008 in the weekly COMPAS business poll for Canadian Business, now in its eight year.

Not historically pro-Harper, panelists have a long history of favourable assessments of the Rt. Honourable Paul Martin and his economic management. In the current economic situation, CEOs and business leaders on the COMPAS panel favour Stephen Harper by an immense margin. In practice, 70% believe that he would be the best Prime Minister in the current economic situation compared to 19% for Michael Ignatieff and 5% each for Stephane Dion and Bob Rae.

By overwhelming margins, panelists perceive the coalition efforts as a power grab rather than honest frustration over the government’s budgetary plans. In practice, a majority of panelists approved the financial update’s budget plans, believing that Canada has been better off than other OECD countries and that heavy spending would have been premature.

These are the key findings from this past week’s Internet survey of CEOs and business leaders on the COMPAS panel. The weekly business survey is undertaken for Canadian Business magazine under sponsorship of BDO Dunwoody LLP.