Canadians are losing trust in the ability of both the federal government and their provincial governments to deal with key issues such as health care, climate change, immigration or the economy.
Since 2019, the annual Confederation of Tomorrow surveys have asked which government Canadians trust more to make the right decisions in different policy areas. A growing number of Canadians say they trust neither level of government to address these key issues. This pattern is evident across all regions of the country.
The survey shows that the proportions trusting the federal government more, or trusting both levels of government equally, have declined. Despite this, there has been no increase in the proportion trusting their provincial governments more. In other words, Canadians have not shifted their trust over time from the federal government to their provincial government.
Survey Details
The 2024 study consists of a survey of 6,036 adults, conducted between January 13 and April 13, 2024 (82% of the responses were collected between January 17 and February 1); 94% of the responses were collected online. The remaining responses were collected by telephone from respondents living in the North or on First Nations reserves.
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).
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.
More from this Series
Related reading
Federal-provincial relations: public perceptions
The study finds that views on whether federal and provincial governments are working well together have not changed that much over the past two decades. However, compared to the early 2000s, Canadians are less likely to blame both governments equally when conflict arises, and more likely to take sides by blaming either the federal government or their provincial government.
Affordable housing: approval of federal, provincial and local governments
The availability and affordability of housing has emerged as a top public policy issue. And it is one in which all governments – federal, provincial and territorial, and local – have a role to play.
Canada’s Changing Population: Key Trends Shaping our Future
In 2024, YMCA Canada commissioned several reports to explore areas where significant changes lie ahead. The reports were launched at the 2024 YMCA National Conference in Halifax in June. The report on demographic change was prepared by the Environics Institute.