(EKOS) The governing Conservative Party holds a national lead of eight percentage points over the Liberals, according to new poll by EKOS.

The poll, released exclusively to CBC, shows that when respondents were asked which party they would back if an election were held tomorrow, the Conservatives garnered 33.9 per cent support, while the Liberals took 25.7 per cent.

The NDP had the support of 16.4 per cent, while 11.9 per cent backed the Green Party and 9.4 per cent preferred the Bloc Québécois.

The latest poll was in line with results in recent weeks, since the Tories started stretching their lead from a near dead heat with the Liberals in mid-April. Last week's EKOS poll showed the Conservatives with a lead of almost 10 points, but the week-to-week change is not statistically significant as it is within the survey's margin of error.

Consistent with past weeks, 50.4 per cent of Canadians polled said the country is moving in the right direction and 37 per cent said it is moving in the wrong direction. Conservative supporters, along with other adults in Alberta and the Atlantic regions, are most likely to see the country going in the right direction

Also consistent with last week, 41.9 per cent approved of the government's direction while 48 per cent said it is moving in the wrong direction. Dissatisfaction is most intense among supporters of the Bloc Québécois, the Green Party and the NDP, the poll indicates. Young voters and Quebecers are also unhappy with the government.

The poll is based on a sample of 2,178 Canadians aged 18 and over. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.