Canada's ruling Liberal Party had the support of 40 percent of respondents in a new poll published on Sunday, remaining in first place in a series of recent polls ahead of a general election.

The Leger Marketing survey, conducted Sept. 6-11, pegged Conservative support at 24 percent, while the National Democratic Party (NDP) stood at 15 percent and the Bloc Quebecois at 13 percent.

Observers say the results are another sign that Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberals have bounced back from the sponsorship scandal, which had them plunging in the polls earlier this year as the Gomery commission heard allegations of widespread financial corruption within the party's Quebec wing.

"It shows that even though they (the Liberals) went through hard times last spring, it seems that they're slowly coming out of it," said Anne-Marie Marois, Leger Marketing's research director.

Marois said the poll revealed strong growth for the Liberals in Western Canada, including a jump of 16 percentage points in Alberta in two months and an increase of 14 percentage points in British Columbia.

The Liberals formed a minority government in June 2004 with 36. 7 percent support, compared with the 29.6 percent for the Conservatives.

In the November 2000 election, the Liberals romped to their third consecutive majority with 40.8 percent, while the Canadian Alliance and the Conservatives totalled 37.7 percent.

Martin has promised to call an election within 30 days of Justice John Gomery tabling his final report, which he now says will occur next Feb. 1.

Source: Xinhua