Public opinion matters – in all countries, but especially in democracies like ours. Public opinion research in the public interest makes an essential contribution to good governance and meeting societal challenges.
American polling pioneer George Gallup, in his 1940 classic The Pulse of Democracy (co-authored by Canadian Saul Rae), characterized public opinion polling as an essential extension of democratic institutions and a free press, a counterweight to special interests and those who purported to speak on behalf of the public but often did not. In democracies today, the support, acceptance or at least acquiescence of the public is required in order to govern, make policy and address the important challenges facing society. On any given issue, competing interests will seek not only to build public support for their position, but to determine and demonstrate that citizens are on their side.
Focus Canada
Focus Canada is the longest running and most comprehensive public opinion research program on public policy issues in Canada.
Related reading
Focus Canada 2010
Public opinion matters – in all countries, but especially in democracies like ours. Public opinion research in the public interest makes an essential contribution to good governance and meeting societal challenges.
Focus Canada 2012
Focus Canada is an ongoing public opinion research program that provides a credible, independent and sustained source of Canadian public opinion data on important issues facing the country.
Intergenerational Mobility in Canada
A succession of economic downturns over the last decades has led many to express concerns that the next generation of Canadians will be less, and not more, well-off than the ones that preceded it.