The latest Canadian Press/Harris Decima survey probed opinions about interim NDP leader Nycole Turmel

• More than half have heard the news that Nycole Turmel has previously been a member of the BQ. Nationally, 58% expressed this view, while 41% indicated they had not read, seen or head anything about this news.
• One in five Canadians consider her past membership in the BQ to be a major issue. Overall, 19% called it a major issue, while 27% feel it is a minor issue. A plurality (46%) feels her past membership in the BQ is not an issue. Concern is highest in Manitoba and Saskatchewan where 32% consider her past membership a major issue, and lowest in Quebec where just 5% feel the same way. In Quebec, just 19% consider her past membership in the BQ to be an issue at all.
• A majority feel Nycole Turmel should stay on as interim leader of the NDP. Nationally, 53% feel this way, while 25% feel the NDP should pick a new interim leader. In Alberta, and in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, more feel she should be replaced than feel she should stay on as interim leader. In Quebec, 70% feel she should stay on as leader, with 13% feel she should be replaced.
• Across voting intention lines, a majority of non-Conservatives feel she should continue on as leader. Conservatives are evenly split on the question with 39% feeling she should stay on, and 38% feeling the NDP should pick a new interim leader.
   

Each week, Harris/Decima interviews just over 1000 Canadians through teleVox, the company’s national telephone omnibus survey. The most recent data were gathered between August 4 and August 8, 211 for just over 1,000 completes. A sample of the same size has a margin of error of 3.1%, 19 times out of 20.