OTTAWA - A recent poll suggests Canadians weren't buying Prime Minister Stephen Harper's contention that his government is working hard despite the suspension of Parliament.

The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey indicates 39 per cent of respondents believed the government had been not at all active or hardworking since Harper prorogued Parliament, which is not due back until March 3.

That's more than triple the 12 per cent who said the government has been very active and hardworking.

Another 37 per cent said the government has been somewhat active.

The findings suggest Harper has not been able to quell public opposition to prorogation despite a flurry of news conferences, briefings, interviews, announcements and pre-budget consultations aimed at showing the government hard at work.

The survey of just over 1,000 Canadians was conducted Jan. 21-24 and is considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points 19 times in 20.