Election Jawdroppers

Hennessy's Index: A number is never just a number

Hennessy's Index

Hennessy's Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA's Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. Scroll down for a PDF version.  For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index

  • 5

    Number of questions Prime Minister Stephen Harper permits reporters on the campaign trail. (Source)
  • $38.7 million

    What the Conservative government has spent on media monitoring since 2008. (Source)
  • $46.5 million

    How much more the federal government spent on advertising than corporate giant Bell Canada in 2009-10. Total 2009-10 federal advertising budget: $136 million. (Source)
  • 16

    Number of Liberal and coalition attack ads posted on the Conservative Party of Canada's campaign website (multimedia section). (Source)
  • 54

    Percentage of Canadians who prefer a Liberal-NDP coalition government over a Conservative majority government: April 1, 2011 Ipsos Reid poll. (Source)
  • $29 billion

    Estimated cost of the Harper government's proposed F35 fighter jets. (Source)
  • 0

    Number of engines that actually come with the fighter jets. (They're extra). (Source)
  • $2,829.38

    Estimated personal cost to Canadians who earn $50,000, to pay for Harper's F35 fighter jets, new prisons, and oil company subsidies. Calculate your personal cost at contactyourmp.ca/harpercost. (Source)
  • $50 million

    Total reported amount of federal funding to spruce up Parry Sound-Muskoka for the G8 summit. Includes $14,000 for glow sticks and $100,000 for a gazebo an hour's drive away from the G8 site. (Source)
  • 62

    Percentage of Canadians who describe Canada's democracy as being in a state of crisis. (Source)
  • 2,056,001

    Number of Canadians who voted in advance polls, April 2011. A 34 per cent increase comopared to the 2008 federal election. (Source)
Author(s): 
May 1, 2011
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