A Better Canada: Community, Citizenship and Engagement

The events of 2020 have disrupted every aspect of Canadians’ daily lives. What is less clear is the extent to which they have also changed their longer-term outlook. Community, Citizenship and Engagement, the second report from the survey, explores Canadians’ attitudes on a wide range of topics, including citizenship, the role of government, and the functioning of the economy – all in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The research also addresses the relationship between citizens and their democratic political system, encompassing questions about political efficacy and participation, leaders and institutions, and the prospects for change.

The survey offers a mixed portrait: most Canadians express confidence in some types of leaders and institutions, but not others; most Canadians think it’s likely that the country will make progress in addressing some forms of inequality, but not all forms; and while a majority thinks that citizens, working together, can reverse an unpopular government decision, a significant minority does not. More encouragingly, however, the survey indicates that younger Canadians remain more hopeful about the prospects of achieving a better Canada.

A Better Canada was conducted by the Environics Institute and Vancity in August of 2020. The survey of 3,008 Canadians was carried out online between August 17 and 24, 2020.