Report

There is no shortage of concern that support for democracy among younger generations is weakening. This report addresses this issue by reviewing results to survey questions grouped under five themes: satisfaction and trust; democracy compared to other forms of government; democratic norms; respect for civil liberties; and political disaffection.

While Albertans have become less likely to express feelings of “Western alienation,” there has been a steady polarization of opinions in the province.

Most Canadians support the federal government’s intention to act quickly to expand the country’s infrastructure, but not in the absence of agreements with its provincial or Indigenous partners.

Are Canadians more egalitarian than Americans? Are they more troubled by the existence of various forms of social inequality – such as those between rich and poor, men and women, white and Black – and more inclined to look to government to address them?

In the current political context, how do Americans and Canadians feel about the powers afforded to their national leader over other branches of government and the media?

Income inequality is patently visible in today’s society. To what extent does the public look to their governments to act to narrow the gap between rich and poor, and how have such expectations changed over the past decade or so?

All four Atlantic provinces have experienced significant political changes in the past year. These developments have taken place against the backdrop of additional major political change at the national and international level.

The results of the latest survey, conducted in the summer of 2025, provide a comprehensive update. They show that the extent to which Canadians trust political actors and institutions has, in most cases, held steady over the past 15 years. In some cases, trust has increased.

Today we live in a time of social and political fracture. Much of what people know and how they communicate with others is happening on social media that channels content through narrow audiences, and feeds conflict and outrage. Amidst the noise of heated political rhetoric and ranting Tik Tok videos, are we losing trust in each other?

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.