Canadian Public Opinion on Carney Administration Progress During Summer Recess, as Revealed by Nanos Polling
Ready for a refreshing take on the latest Canadian political pulse? Let's dive right in!
According to a recent Nanos survey, Canadians are eagerly anticipating concrete results from their politicians this year. The survey, commissioned by our very own News website, indicates that nearly four in ten Canadians are expecting progress on major initiatives undertaken by the new Carney government by the end of the year.
Curious to know what these Canadians are hoping to see? Well, they weren't specifically asked about specific initiatives. But the recently elected Liberals campaigned on a hefty platform that promised tax cuts for the middle class, protection against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, diversified trade, and Canada's most ambitious housing plan since World War II.
Now, let's talk about when our fellow Canadians expect to see these changes. An optimistic three percent think they'll see changes by the end of the month, while seventeen percent are doubtful about seeing any progress at all. Interestingly, men were more pessimistic about their expectations than women, with 23 percent of men saying they didn't expect much from the current government compared to 12 percent of women. Oh, and the young 'uns were more skeptical too, with 25 percent of those aged 18 to 34 expecting no concrete results, compared to just 10 percent of those aged 55 and older.
In for the Long Haul
What do our fellow citizens want from federal politicians? Two-thirds believe it's important or somewhat important that the new government work through the summer, rather than taking a break. Those in Ontario and the Prairies feel strongest about this notion, while Canadians in Quebec seem less concerned. Still, a majority in Quebec believe that leaders should forgo their usual break to some extent.
The Liberals have previously stated that they plan to delay the budget release until the fall, after the House of Commons returns in mid-September. This decision has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who have criticized the throne speech as vague and lacking in specifics, particularly on economic policies.
Interestingly, Canadians seem split on whether the Liberal government should table a budget before the fall. 53 percent believe it's important or somewhat important for the government to do so. Men, residents of the Prairies, and Canadians under the age of 55 are more likely to want a budget sooner than the fall sitting.
The Nanos Touch
This study, commissioned by our News website, was conducted by Nanos Research. They polled 1,120 randomly selected Canadians between June 1 and 3. The results were weighted by age and gender using the latest census information (2021) and stratified geographically to represent the Canadian population. The margin of error is approximately 2.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Now, this study doesn't tell the whole story.
To paint a more comprehensive picture of Canadians' expectations, we must consider the broad priorities outlined by Prime Minister Mark Carney. These priorities include renegotiating trade agreements, dismantling interprovincial trade barriers, assisting Canadians with living expenses, bolstering the military, recalibrating immigration policies, cutting government operational costs, and working to meet the NATO target of 2% of GDP in defence spending.
When it comes to working through the summer, although data specific to this issue isn't readily available, Canadians tend to expect their leaders to be proactive and responsive to national needs, regardless of the season. So, if the Carney government intends to deliver on their ambitious agenda, there might be a general acceptance or even expectation for them to keep pushing through the summer months, resulting in tangible policy advancements and improvements for the Canadian people.
- The survey commissioned by our News website suggests that Canadians are eagerly anticipating progress on major initiatives undertaken by the new Carney government, such as tax cuts for the middle class, protection against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, diversified trade, and Canada's most ambitious housing plan since World War II.
- The Nanos survey also reveals that Canadians generally believe it's important or somewhat important for the new government to work through the summer rather than taking a break, especially those in Ontario and the Prairies.
- While the Carney government has stated that they plan to delay the budget release until the fall, opposition parties have criticized this decision as vague and lacking specifics, particularly on economic policies. However, the survey suggests that 53% of Canadians believe it's important or somewhat important for the government to table a budget before the fall sitting, with men, residents of the Prairies, and Canadians under the age of 55 being more likely to want a budget sooner.
