Dead Heat: Martin and Harper Tied for Internet Popularity

Belinda Stronach 2nd Most Popular Liberal MP

Calgary, AB, January 12th, 2006 - Shoptoit.ca, Canada’s first shopping search engine, announced today that Paul Martin and Stephen Harper are in a dead heat for highest number of Canadian Google searches since the campaign began. During the period December 14 - January 8, Paul Martin was the Top Searched Candidate with 12,799 Canadian searches conducted on Google. Stephen Harper was right behind Martin with 12,764 searches. Jack Layton received 5,830 searches. Belinda Stronach was the 2nd most popular Liberal MP with about half as many searches as Martin, but three times as many searches as Ken Dryden.

Shoptoit.ca is using their product comparison search engine technology to help Canadians compare, candidates, learn more about them and know where they stand on key election issues. It contacted candidates from all parties across Canada. Candidates were asked to complete a 10-minute basic questionnaire of 15 relevant background questions and 10 topical political issues questions.

Canadians visiting the site, www.shoptoit.ca can simply enter their postal code to learn more about the candidates in their specific riding. Its side-by-side comparison displays where the candidates stand on the key political issues and shows the candidates’ experience and history. The site allows visitors to engage in discussions as well as participate in a weekly poll.

“At a time when voter apathy reigns and studies worth millions of dollars are commissioned to help politicians reach the Canadian public, we have put our popular search engine to good use. It is now easy and free for Canadians to search their local candidates,” comments Clark Johannson, President, Shop To It Inc.

“Soon we will be comparing Martin and Harper’s popularity to other popular search terms like Digital Cameras, Flowers, and Brittany Spears, but with respects to the Prime Minister I wouldn’t bet against Brittany.”

Shoptoit.ca was visited by more than 370,000 Canadians in December alone and daily visitors to its election site has increased 4.5 times in January. Of the visitors to Shoptoit.ca, there is a slant towards women aged 21-49: a group deemed particularly hard to reach by politicians.

** Online statistics gathered by Shoptoit.ca from Canadian Google Searches

Top Election Issues Survey

According to a survey of 851 people, conducted by Shoptoit.ca from December 28th to Jan. 10th, the top two election issues for Canadians are government accountability (23.7%) and healthcare (22%). In third place, Tax Reduction was the most important election issue for 15.9%. A complete breakdown of the survey:

About Shop To It Inc.

Shoptoit.ca is Canada’s first-ever shopping search engine. The company was created in 2004 to meet the need of an underserved Canadian market and to bring a streamlined online shopping experience across the country. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Shoptoit.ca was created by seasoned entrepreneurs and business veterans Clark Johansson, Scott Sanderson and Brendan Duddridge under their software development and marketing business Clickspace Interactive Inc. The company has already successfully incubated two software organizations (Repeat Seat and StrataHealth Solutions) and developed a leading E-commerce software application package (DriveIt Online Marketing Software).

For more information, contact:

Scott Henderson
Tel: 403.921.2001
scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca

Online Media Kit: www.shoptoit.ca/news