An online poll for CTV News and The Globe and Mail shows overwhelming support for the idea of a national Prime Ministers Day, and Sir John A. Macdonald was the top choice for a non-living PM to be honoured by such a holiday.

Eighty-five percent of respondents in the month-long poll said "yes" to the question: "Do you support the creation of a new public holiday to honour dead Canadian prime ministers?" There were 375,280 votes cast in that poll.

Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, was the first choice to be honoured. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who reptatriated the constitution, came in second.

Details in response to the question: "Which Prime Minister do you think should be commemorated on the inaugural holiday?"

Bennett, R. B.: 137 votes -- 0 per cent
Borden, Sir Robert: 346 votes -- 1 per cent
Diefenbaker, John: 1721 votes-- 5 per cent
King, Mackenzie: 825 votes -- 2 per cent
Laurier, Sir Wilfrid: 1280 votes -- 4 per cent
Macdonald, Sir John A.: 16352 votes -- 45 per cent
Pearson, Lester B.: 2593 votes -- 7 per cent
St. Laurent, Louis: 148 votes -- 0 per cent
Trudeau, Pierre : 12162 votes -- 34 per cent
Other: 561 votes -- 2 per cent

The poll was part of a campaign launched last month by the non-profit Dominion Institute, which is hoping to persuade the federal government to recognize a Prime Ministers Day holiday in February.