Canada-U.S. Relations is the most important issue for the first time since July 2025, overtaking housing and financial concerns.
Vancouver, BC [November 12, 2026] – The standing of Canada’s main federal political parties did not vary much over the past three months, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample, 47% of decided voters across Canada (unchanged since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in August) would cast a ballot for the Liberal Party candidate in their riding if a federal election were held today.
The Conservative Party is second with 28% (+1), followed by the New Democratic Party (NDP) with 11% (+1), the Bloc Québécois with 6% (=), the Green Party with 4% (-1), the People’s Party with 2% (-2) and other parties and independent candidates with 1% (=).
The governing Liberals hold sizeable leads over the Conservatives among Baby Boomers (57% to 23%), Generation X (49% to 33%) and Generation Z (48% to 22%). The race is closer but with the governing party still ahead, among Millennials (38% to 32%).
Majorities of decided voters in Atlantic Canada (54%) and Quebec (53%) would support the Liberals in the next federal election. The governing party is also ahead in British Columbia (47%) and Ontario (45%) and trails the Conservatives in Alberta by five points (36% to 41%).
When Canadians are asked about the most important issue facing the country, more than one-in-four (26%, +14) mention Canada-U.S. Relations, followed by housing, homelessness and poverty (19%, -4), the economy and jobs (18%, -7), health care (12%, -2) and immigration (8%, -1).
“Canadians were clearly enthralled by the midterm elections in the United States,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Canada-U.S. Relations had not been ranked as the most important issue facing Canada since July 2025.”
More than three-in-five Canadians (62%, +3) approve of the performance of Mark Carney as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party, while two-in-five (40%, +2) are satisfied with how Pierre Poilievre is managing his duties as leader of the Official Opposition and the Conservative Party
The approval rating is lower this month for outgoing Green leader Elizabeth May (35%, -2), NDP leader Avi Lewis (also 35%, +3), Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet (24%, -4) and People’s Party leader Maxime Bernier (23%, +1).
The “Preferred Prime Minister” question places Carney at 46% (+1), followed by Poilievre at 22% (=) and with the remaining federal party leaders in single digits.
Carney maintains double-digit leads over Poilievre when Canadians are asked which one of the two leaders is best suited to manage nine different issues: foreign affairs (52% to 26%), Canada-U.S. Relations (50% to 23%), national unity (48% to 26%), accountability and leadership (48% to 26%), the economy and jobs (47% to 29%), energy and pipelines (45% to 28%), health care (42% to 26%), the environment (40% to 24%), and housing, homelessness and poverty (40% to 29%).
Poilievre manages to reach or surpass the 30% mark on two issues where he still trails Carney: immigration (30% to 40%) and crime and public safety (33% to 38%).
Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from October 18 to October 20, 2026, among 1,001 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Find our data tables here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca