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ABOVE: Canadians approve most strongly of the NDPs Thomas Mulcair, yet dont quite seem ready to embrace him as Prime Minister.We speak with Ipsos Reids Darrell Bricker about what the poll suggests for the next federal election

TORONTO If you had to choosebetween NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who would you say was a better leader? Would you change your answerif you were selectingthe next Prime Minister of Canada? A new Global News/Ipsos Reid poll suggests Mulcair has a higher approval rating than both Trudeau and Stephen Harper, but that Trudeaus Liberals are favoured over the NDP to lead the next government.

Fifty-seven per cent of Canadians polled approved of Mulcairs individual performance as Leader of the Opposition and NDP, compared with 55 per cent approval for Trudeau and 49 per cent for Harper.

But despite earning the top spot in terms of performance, Mulcairs high rating doesnt look like it will translate into votes, according to the poll results.

Only 36 per cent agree that Mulcair is ready to be Prime Minister; 37 per cent agree the NDP is ready to formthe next government. On the other hand, a full two thirds (63 per cent) disagree the NDP is ready to be the next government and 64 per cent disagree Mulcair is ready to be PM.

This is compared with 44 per cent of those polled who think Trudeau could lead the country, and the same percentage who think Liberals could govern. A majority (at 56 per cent) also disagree that Trudeau is prepared to be Canadas head of state; 56 per cent dont think his party is ready to formCanadas next government.

The discord between high approval and the belief Mulcair is ready to govern could be because people havent thought of him in those terms yet, says Ipsos Reid Global Public Affairs CEO Darrell Bricker.

He seems to be outstanding in the minds of Canadians as an Opposition leader, but do they see him yet as a Prime Minister? Thats another bridge that he has to cross.

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Mulcair seen as better leader, but Liberals favoured to win: poll