Mount Royal riding

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Suburban conducted a small poll of 150 people in the Hampstead, CSL, CDN and TMR areas of Mount Royal riding last week regarding the upcoming federal election that could be held as early as this year if the minority Liberal government loses a confidence vote. The riding has been a Liberal stronghold since 1940.

The results demonstrate an interesting split between the incumbent, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, Conservative candidate Neil Oberman and those who are undecided, and some out of left field choices. Over the years, many have lamented that they cannot vote for Housefather and against Trudeau.

According to our straw poll results, Oberman had the support of 31.3 percent of respondents, Housefather had the support of 25.3 percent and 37.3 percent were undecided, with three percent for whoever the NDP candidate will be. Those who were undecided were split between Housefather and Oberman in CSL, Hampstead and TMR, and generally between Housefather and the NDP in Côte des Neiges.

Some comments from residents in TMR:

One undecided voter who is leaning towards Oberman said, “I voted for the Liberals for 30 years. Do I vote for the Liberal trainwreck or study what Oberman is doing? This is what many Townies are thinking.”

Said another resident: “Housefather is not my choice, but I’ll vote Liberal anyway.”

“I’ve always been Liberal, but I don’t like either candidate,” said another.

“I’ve given up on Trudeau, he’s had his time,” said an undecided voter. “Let’s see what he does [in terms of staying on as leader] and then I’ll decide.”

One TMR resident said he’ll vote for the Bloc Québécois.

“They have the best interest of the province at heart,” said the English-speaker.

The responses in Côte des Neiges were more split between the Liberals and NDP, with at least one respondent expressing a dislike for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Another said, “unfortunately I love Housefather, but I can’t stand Trudeau.”

A Housefather voter said, “I don’t know anything about Oberman.”

There were also some out of the ordinary responses.

One anglophone undecided voter said, “I’m not voting for Housefather, he’s anti-French. Anglophones should get out of their enclaves and learn the French culture.”

“I’m done with Trudeau,” said an undecided voter. “he acted badly during the pandemic, like a dictator. F–kin’ Trudeau.”

In Hampstead, many chose Oberman and others were undecided.

“I’m allergic to Trudeau,” said a voter. “Anthony is a good representative, but he’s in the wrong party.”

“If Trudeau wins, I’m leaving Canada!” said another.

One couple, originally from Vancouver, chose the Green Party.

Another couple chose the NDP.

“They’re the only ones talking about Gaza,” they said.

In Côte St. Luc, the Housefather-Oberman-undecided vote was split.

“There’s no doubt in my mind I’m voting for Oberman, I will not vote for Liberals again,” said CSL resident Steven White. “As much as I like Anthony as a human being, I do not like the leader he represents and I cannot in good conscience vote the Liberals in again.” n