Two main political events since the start of this year have affected the context in which the relations between governments in Canada are evolving. First, the imposition of U.S. tariffs, combined with the American president’s threats against Canada’s independence, have created a new sense of urgency. Second, the change of prime minister following the resignation of Justin Trudeau and the selection of Mark Carney as his successor, has led to a shift of both policy and leadership style at the federal level.
How have these events affected the public’s perception of the state of intergovernmental relations in the country? The latest survey finds that these events have been followed by a significant improvement in the public’s sense of how well their governments are working together. At the same time, after three consecutive years of increases, the proportion trusting neither the federal nor their provincial government to make the right decision in several key policy areas has fallen.
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.
This version of the report includes minor corrections made on August 29, 2025 as a result of small adjustments to the survey weights.
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).
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.
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
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.
Attachment and identity in the Canadian federation
The annual Confederation of Tomorrow surveys explore the relationships between different types of identity. It asks about attachment to and identification with Canada and one’s province or territory; it also asks Indigenous Peoples about their attachment to their Indigenous nation or community.
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.