First of all, some disclosure: I have been active in the Green Party since late 2006.
Citizens in an election campaign can reasonably expect that the poll results they are looking at are current. They should ask why a political party would use data that is four years old.
I received an election flyer in my mailbox from NDP candidate Gord Johns. A bar graph dominates one side.
Most people looking at the flyer would think that the graph represents current polling. But in fact it is based on 2011 federal election results. Very small print discloses that the information is four years old. There is a reason for the use of four-year-old numbers.
I am concerned that this behaviour serves to reinforce citizen skepticism about Canadian politics. Healthy democracy is dependent upon citizen participation which is in turn dependent upon the trustworthiness of politicians.
Sandra FinleyQualicum Beach
