The latest Confederation of Tomorrow research, conducted in May-June 2025, reveals that public concerns about climate change notwithstanding, Canadians are placing increasing priority on economic security over the importance of reducing carbon emissions. This change is especially evident in British Columbia – and, as a result, the gaps in opinions between B.C. residents and their neighbours in Alberta are narrowing.

2025 Survey Details

The 2025 study consists of a survey of 5,391 adults, conducted between May 1 and June 16, 2025 (92% of the responses were collected between May 6 and May 29); 90% of the responses were collected online. The remaining responses were collected by telephone (both landline and cell phone) from respondents living in the North or on First Nations reserves, or from francophone respondents in New Brunswick.

Funder

This project benefits from the financial support of the Research Support Program of the Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes (SQRC) / Ce projet bénéficie de l’appui financier du Programme d’appui à la recherche du Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes (SQRC).

Logo of the Secrétariat aux relations canadiennes, featuring the word Québec and four blue squares with white fleur-de-lis symbols, highlighting Canadians on Reconciliation and Relations with Indigenous Peoples.
Cover image with red maple leaf graphics, silhouettes of wind turbines, and the title Climate Policy in the Federation. Text also features Canadians on Reconciliation and Relations with Indigenous Peoples, Confederation of Tomorrow, Environics Institute, and 2025 Series.
Read the reportMain data tables for questions covered in this report (provinces)Additional tables for the territories only

Note: the Confederation of Tomorrow uses separate weighting factors for the overall results, the results for residents of the three territories (the North), and for Indigenous Peoples. When reporting results for the territories (individually or as a region) or for Indigenous Peoples, please use the corresponding separate tables.

Confederation of Tomorrow logo

The Confederation of Tomorrow surveys give voice to Canadians about the major issues shaping the future of the federation and their political communities. They are conducted annually by an association of the country’s leading public policy and socio-economic research organizations: the Environics Institute for Survey Research, the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation, the Canada West Foundation, the Centre D’Analyse Politique – Constitution et Fédéralisme, the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and the First Nations Financial Management Board.

View this series

Related reading

Red text reads

Addressing climate change in the Canadian federation

Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change had emerged as one of Canadians’ top concerns. The situation a year later is completely different: naturally, the pandemic now eclipses all other issues as the one Canadians see as most important.

A graphic with solar panels under a bright sun on the left, illustrating addressing climate change in the Canadian federation, beside a red maple leaf logo and the words “Confederation of Tomorrow 2024 Series.”.

Addressing climate change in the Canadian federation

Canadians are evenly divided on the relative priority that should be given to protecting the environment versus protecting jobs. The emphasis placed on environmental protection has declined since 2023 across the population.

A maroon-toned slide titled Respect and influence in the Canadian federation displays results from the Confederation of Tomorrow Survey of Canadians, 2025, with the Environics Institute logo. The background features a lake and flags blowing in the wind.

Respect and influence in the Canadian federation

Every year since 2019, the Confederation of Tomorrow survey has been asking Canadians the following three questions about respect, influence and spending in the federation.

Environics Institute for Survey Research

701-33 Bloor Street East
Toronto, ON M4W 3H1

info@environicsinstitute.org

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