1. Factors Affecting Conservative Party Preference
Qualitative Presentation – POL 242Y
January 31, 2008

2. Research Question
What demographic and socio-economic factors are linked with an increased probability of voting Conservative?

3. Ethical Review Received ethical approval in December 2007.
Offered confidentiality to subjects, but both waived it on the consent form.
Consent forms were completed, returned to subjects and included with the assignment to be handed in.

4. Qualitative Approach
Two elite interviews, conducted on January 2, 2008 in St. Catharines, ON.
1. William Mathie – former President of the St. Catharines Conservative EDA
2. Rick Dykstra, MP (St. Catharines)

5. Rationale - Question
Right Side Up (Paul Wells) and Harper’s Team (Tom Flanagan).
Previous research: union membership and party preference presentation.
Central questions:
Are there demographic or socio-economic factors that affect party preference?
Which have the most effect?

6. Rationale - Approach
Both subjects have years of experience working and campaigning for the Conservative Party.
They can be considered as having ‘elite’ knowledge about this subject.
‘Elite’ information is not likely known to members of the general public.

7. Interviews – Key Themes
Family and religion were emphasized.
Traditional (mother/father/children) families were identified as more likely to support the Conservatives.
‘Family-friendly’ policies such as the child-care allowance and children’s sports tax credit.
Families with more than 3 children are 70-80% more likely to vote Conservative.

8. Importance of regular church attendance.
Protestants are more likely to support the Conservatives than Catholics, but this is changing.
Differences in Protestant denominations.
First-time home owners will support the candidate who seeks them out first.
People do not fully pay attention to politics until they buy a house.
They become more aware of responsibilities, bills and taxes, and look for help with them.

9. Union membership was not seen as a major influence on party preference.
Hostility from union leadership, but many ‘rank and file’ supporters.
Higher incomes for unionized workers.
Unionized workers in manufacturing may be afraid of the threat posed to their jobs by the environmental programs of other parties.
‘Family-friendly’ CPC policies appealing to lower-income, working-class voters with young families.

10. Conclusion
Findings were broadly similar to previous literature and personal research.
‘Rank and file’ union members and the Conservatives.
Home ownership and political awareness.

11. Next Steps?
Consider how income affects the relationship between union membership and party preference.
Consider the relationship between home ownership and political awareness.