Canada – Page 6 – Research Co.

Canadians Would Welcome New Oversight in Nomination Races

September 11, 2024September 10, 2024By Mario Canseco

Seven-in-ten would place the contests under the purview of Elections Canada and more than half support holding primaries.

Vancouver, BC [September 11, 2024] – As the activities of the Foreign Interference Commission continue, many Canadians express support for new guidelines to govern federal nomination races, a new Research Co. poll has found.

The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions has raised questions about foreign interference affecting federal nomination races.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, seven-in-ten Canadians (70%) think it would be a “very good” or “good” idea to place all federal nomination races under the jurisdiction of Elections Canada.

“The notion of Elections Canada overseeing federal nomination contests is very popular among supporters of all three major parties,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Sizeable majorities of those who voted for the Liberal Party (77%), the Conservative Party (72%) or the New Democratic Party (NDP) (71%) in the 2021 federal election regard this as a positive move.”

More than half of Canadians (53%) are in favour of holding open primary elections in contested federal nominations, like they do in the United States.

Support for holding this type of open primaries is highest in British Columbia (60%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 60%), followed by Ontario (57%), Alberta (55%), Quebec (52%) and Atlantic Canada (48%).

More than two-in-five Canadians (45%) are following the Foreign Interference Commission “very closely” or “moderately closely”.

Compared to a Research Co. survey conducted in February 2023—before the Foreign Interference Commission was called—there is an increase in the proportion of Canadians who think China is “very likely” or “moderately likely” to have attempted to influence electoral processes in Canada in this century, from 60% last year to 66% in 2024.

Fewer Canadians feel the United States (63%, +2), Russia (57%, +1), India (42%) and Pakistan (33%) have attempted to influence Canada’s electoral processes.

There is a noticeable jump when Canadians are asked about the type of electoral processes that have been successfully influenced by foreign governments in this century.

Almost two thirds of Canadians (64%, +6) think there has been “definite” or “probable” foreign influence on federal elections, and more than half (55%, +6) feel the same way about federal nomination contests.

This year, Canadians are also more likely to think that four other types of democratic contests have been tainted by foreign actors: provincial elections (49%, +7), provincial nomination contests (39%, +4), municipal elections (40%, +7) and municipal nomination contests (34%, +5).

More than seven-in-ten Canadians (73%, +1) are in favour of Canada introducing laws against foreign interference similar to the ones currently in place in Australia, which criminalize covert and deceptive or threatening activities.

Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted on August 19 to August 21, 2024, among 1,002 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Mulroney Gains, Justin Trudeau Sinks as Canadians Rate PMs

September 4, 2024September 3, 2024By Mario Canseco

Canada’s 18th Prime Minister improves his standing, while the negative rating increases for the current head of government.

Vancouver, BC [September 4, 2024] – About one-in-six Canadians deem Brian Mulroney as the best Prime Minister the country has had since 1968, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 15% of Canadians pick Mulroney from a list of nine current and former heads of government, up seven points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in July 2023.

Two former prime ministers are ahead of Mulroney on this question: Pierre Trudeau (18%, -2) and Stephen Harper (16%, -1). The rating is lower for Justin Trudeau (10%, -2), Jean Chrétien (9%, -2), Kim Campbell (3%, +2), Paul Martin (2%, -1), Joe Clark (2%, =) and John Turner (1%, -1).

Among men, Harper has a four-point edge over Pierre Trudeau (21% to 17%) as the best recent prime minister. Women put Pierre Trudeau in first place (18%) with Mulroney four points behind (14%).

“Practically one-in-four Quebecers (24%) think Mulroney is the best recent Canadian prime minister,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “In Ontario, Harper and Pierre Trudeau are tied for first place with 19% each.”

Almost two-in-five Canadians (38%, +8) think Justin Trudeau is the worst recent prime minister. Harper is a distant second with 14% (-4), followed by Pierre Trudeau (7%, +2), Campbell (6%, -1), Mulroney (3%, -3), Chrétien (3%, =), Clark (3%, =), Martin (2%, =) and Turner (2%, +1).

Majorities of residents of Alberta (55%) and Manitoba and Saskatchewan (52%) believe Justin Trudeau has been the worst recent Canadian head of government. The proportions are lower in Atlantic Canada (39%), British Columbia (also 39%), Ontario (37%) and Quebec (28%).

The survey also asked questions about 10 different people who served as leaders of the Official Opposition in Ottawa over the past five decades.

Fewer than three-in-ten Canadians believe five of these politicians would have made “very good” or “good” prime ministers: Michael Ignatieff (22%, +3), Stéphane Dion (24%, +6), Stockwell Day (26%, +7), Andrew Scheer (27%, +5) and Rona Ambrose (also 27%, +9).

The rating is slightly higher for four other former leaders of the Official Opposition: Erin O’Toole (31%, +9). Robert Stanfield (33%, +6), Preston Manning (also 33%, +5) and Tom Mulcair (34%, +7).

As has been the case in previous years, the best rated politician on this question is Jack Layton, with 52% of Canadians (+2) believing he would have made a “very good” or “good” prime minister.

Two thirds of Canadians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the 2021 federal election (66%) think Layton would have made a very good” or “good” head of government, along with 68% of those who voted for the Liberal Party and 45% of those who voted for the Conservative Party.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Photo Credit: Bob McNeely

Photograph of President William Jefferson Clinton, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney walking outside the University of British Columbia President’s residence in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada.

Half of Canadians Endorse UK-Style Mandatory National Service

August 28, 2024August 27, 2024By Mario Canseco

Fewer than one-in-five of the country’s residents think provincial legislatures should begin their sessions with a Christian prayer.

Vancouver, BC [August 28, 2024] – A sizeable proportion of Canadians would welcome a proposal to create a mandatory national service for all 18-year-old residents of the country, a new Research Co. poll has found.

Earlier this year, the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom suggested bringing back mandatory national service. The proposal called for all 18-year-old residents of the United Kingdom to either take a full-time military placement for one year, or to volunteer one weekend a month performing community service for one year.

Half of Canadians (50%) support implementing a similar mandatory national service for all 18-year-old residents of Canada, while 41% disagree and 8% are not sure.

“More than half of Canadians aged 18-to-34 (55%) would like to see a form of mandatory national service in the country,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are lower among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (47%) and aged 55 and over (48%).”

The notion of having a mandatory national service in Canada is more popular in Ontario (60%), British Columbia (58%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (54%). Fewer than half of residents of Atlantic Canada (46%), Alberta (44%) and Quebec (42%) concur.

The perceptions of Canadians change when asked about the return of conscription, or the compulsory enlistment of young adults for full-time military service.

In Canada, conscription has not been practiced since the end of the Second World War in 1945. Some European and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries—including Norway, Sweden and Latvia—have recently reintroduced conscription.

Just over two-in-five Canadians (41%) are in favour of reintroducing conscription for adults of both genders aged 18-to-27 in Canada, while 50% are opposed.

Similar proportions of Canadians who voted for the Liberal Party (44%), the Conservative Party (43%) and the New Democratic Party (NDP) (40%) in the 2021 federal election support the implementation of conscription for Canadians aged 18-to-27, regardless of their gender.

Public backing for the return of conscription is lower if a directive called for its implementation exclusively for men (31%) or women (25%).

In the United States, the “Pledge of Allegiance” is recited during Congressional sessions and other government meetings. Just over half of Canadians (52%) think Canada should implement a similar directive, where lawmakers and government workers state their allegiance to the country.

The creation of a “Canadian pledge” is more popular among men (55%), Canadians aged 18-to-34 (56%), Ontarians (57%) and Albertans (55%).

In Canada, some provincial legislatures begin their sessions with moments of silent reflection, non-denominational prayers, and/or Christian prayers.

Just under two-in-five Canadians (39%) would prefer to start legislative sessions in their province with a moment of silent reflection, while fewer select a Christian prayer (19%) or a non-denominational prayer (13%).

More than one-in-five Canadians (22%) believe provincial legislatures should not start sessions with moments of reflection or prayers—a proportion that reaches 28% in British Columbia and 27% in Quebec.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from July 24 to July 26, 2024, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Politically, Most Canadians See Themselves at or Near Centre

August 23, 2024August 23, 2024By Mario Canseco

While 44% regard the Conservatives as “right” or “extreme right”, 33% say the Liberals as “left” or “extreme left”.

Vancouver, BC [August 23, 2024] – Few Canadians look at their own political views as extreme, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, fewer than one-in-twenty Canadians place themselves in the political spectrum as extreme right (4%) or extreme left (3%).

Fewer than one-in-ten Canadians brand themselves politically as right (9%) or left (also 9%). The bulk of responses from Canadians appear in three categories: centre (33%), centre left (15%) and centre right (14%).

“Almost two-in-five Canadians aged 55 and over (39%) say their political views are at the centre,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are lower among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (34%) and aged 18-to-34 (27%).”

Just under a third of Canadians aged 18-to-34 (31%) describe themselves as extreme right, right or centre right. Fewer than three-in-ten Canadians aged 35-to-54 (27%) and aged 55 and over (23%) rely on any of the same three categories.

Similar proportions of Canadians aged 18-to-34 (28%), aged 35-to-54 (27%) and aged 55 and over (also 27%) say they are centre left, left or extreme left.

When asked to place the six main federal political parties on the spectrum, more than two-in-five Canadians (44%) say the Conservative Party is extreme right or right.

One third of Canadians (33%) place the Liberal Party as extreme left or left, and a slightly higher proportion (36%) feel the same way about the New Democratic Party (NDP). The Green Party is regarded as extreme left or left by 29% of Canadians.

About a third of Canadians (32%) are undecided when asked to place both the Bloc Québécois and the People’s Party on the political spectrum. Respondents were more likely to brand each of the two parties as extreme right or right (18% for the Bloc Québécois and 26% for the People’s Party) than as extreme left or left (15% and 10% respectively).

A separate question asked Canadians to place the six main federal party leaders on the political spectrum. More than a third (35%) regard People’s Party leader Maxime Bernier as extreme right, right or centre right, while fewer (28%) use the same categories for Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet.

Elizabeth May of the Green Party and Jagmeet Singh of the NDP are regarded as centre left, left or extreme left by 40% and 41% of Canadians respectively.

Half of Canadians (50%) describe Justin Trudeau of the Liberal Party as centre left, left or extreme left, while a larger proportion (55%) brands Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party as extreme right, right or centre right.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from August 12 to August 14, 2024, among 1,002 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Conservatives Solidly Ahead in Canada’s Federal Political Scene

August 20, 2024August 19, 2024By Mario Canseco

More than half of Canadians are dissatisfied with what the Liberals and the NDP have accomplished since their March 2022 deal.

Vancouver, BC [August 20, 2024] – The Conservative Party holds a significant advantage as Canadians ponder their options in a federal election, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 40% of decided voters in Canada would vote for the Conservative candidate in their constituency if an election took place tomorrow, up two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in April 2024.

The governing Liberal Party is in second place with 25% (-1), followed by the New Democratic Party (NDP) with 17% (-3), the Bloc Québécois with 9% (-1), the Green Party with 6% (+3) and the People’s Party with 2% (+1).

The Conservatives are the top choice for decided voters in Alberta (55%, -5), Atlantic Canada (51%, +7), British Columbia (50%, +4), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (40%, -8) and Ontario (39%, -1). In Quebec, the Bloc remains on top (33%, -1), with the Liberals in second place (28%, =).

More than half of Canadians (54%, +5) are dissatisfied with what the Liberals and the NDP have accomplished since their March 2022 supply and confidence agreement, while 39% (-4) are satisfied.

“In October 2022, Canadians were equally split in their assessment of the Liberal-NDP deal in Ottawa,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Almost two years later, most are unhappy with what has been achieved so far.”

Almost a third of Canadians (32%, +5) identify housing, homelessness and poverty as the most important issue facing the country at this moment, followed by the economy and jobs (25%, +1), health care (15%, =), immigration (10%, +2) and the environment (6%, -2).

For the first time in six surveys conducted since October 2022, more than half of Canadians (52%, +5) approve of the way Official Opposition and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is handling his duties.

The approval ratings are lower this month for NDP leader Jagmeet Singh (42%, -6), Green leader Elizabeth May (35%, +2), Prime Minister and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau (34%, -5), People’s Party leader Maxime Bernier (26%, +4) and Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet (25%, =).

On the “Best Prime Minister” question, Poilievre’s standing increased from 32% in April to 37% this month, while Trudeau dropped from 26% to 22%. Singh is in third place with 14% (-3).

Just over a third of Canadians (34%, -4) say they are comfortable with Trudeau being in charge of Canada’s economy. More than half (54%, +5) say they would be comfortable if Poilievre were in charge.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Canadians Grow Weary When Assessing Their Financial Situation

August 14, 2024August 14, 2024By Mario Canseco

More than two-in-five Canadians (42%) have worried “frequently” or “occasionally” about being able to pay their mortgage or rent.

Vancouver, BC [August 14, 2024] – More than half of Canadians are dissatisfied with the current state of their finances, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 51% of Canadians rate their own personal finances as “poor” or “very poor”, up nine points since a similar Research Co. survey conducted in January 2024.

Only 46% of Canadians (-9) say their own personal finances are “very good” or “good” at the moment.

“More than three-in-five Albertans (61%) are dissatisfied with their current financial situation,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Majorities of British Columbians (52%), Ontarians (51%), Quebecers (also 51%) and Atlantic Canadians (also 51%) feel the same way.”

Almost two thirds of Canadians (64%, +3) rate the economic conditions in Canada today as “bad” or “very bad”, while about a third (32%, -3) consider them “very good” or “good.”

Just over a third of Canadians (34%, -3) believe Canada’s financial standing will decline over the next six months. Only 15% (+1) foresee a recovery, while 43% (+2) expect no changes.

Majorities of Canadians have worried “frequently” or “occasionally” in the past couple of months about two issues: the value of their investments (52%, +6) and the safety of their savings (51%, +4).

Compared to January, there are also increases on three other concerns for Canadians: being able to pay mortgage or rent (42%, +8), unemployment affecting their household (also 42%, +8) and their employer running into serious financial trouble (33%, +5).

Canadians are also more worried about inflation, with majorities expecting to pay more for gasoline (77%, +12), a week’s worth of groceries (76%, +2), a new car (68%, +5) real estate (65%, +14) and a new television set (53%, +6) in the next six months.

On the political front, more than a third of Canadians (36%, -2) trust Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to do the right thing to help the economy. The rating is similar for Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem (35%, +1) and higher for federal leader of the opposition Pierre Poilievre (41%, -2).

Poilievre’s numbers on the economic confidence question are highest in Alberta (54%), followed by Ontario (45%), British Columbia (37%) and Quebec (31%).

Trudeau does best in Quebec (44%), but his rating is lower in British Columbia (36%), Ontario (35%) and Alberta (22%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from August 5 to August 7, 2024, among 1,001 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Appetite for Abortion Debate Hits Lowest Point in Canada

August 9, 2024August 6, 2024By Mario Canseco

Fewer than one-in-four Canadians think the discussion about abortion should be re-opened.

Vancouver, BC [August 9, 2024] – Most Canadians remain skeptical about reigniting a debate on abortion in the country, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, almost three-in-five Canadians (58%) believe there is no point in re-opening a debate about abortion in Canada right now, up five points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in April 2022.

Fewer than one-in-four Canadians (23%, -3) think a debate about abortion is long overdue in Canada and the discussion should be re-opened, while 20% (-1) are not sure.

“In July 2019, more than a third of Canadians (37%) were ready to have a debate over abortion,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion has fallen by 14 points since then.”

Majorities of Canadians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) (68%), the Liberal Party (63%) and the Conservative Party (58%) in the 2021 federal election believe there is no point in re-opening a debate about abortion in Canada right now.

Almost half of Canadians (46%, +2) think abortion should be legal under any circumstances, while just over a third (35%, -2) would allow the procedure only under certain circumstances. Fewer than one-in-ten Canadians (7%, -3) believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.

Women are more likely to favour the legality of abortion in all circumstances (49%) than men (44%).

In Canada, abortions are provided on request to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and are funded by the health care system.

Almost half of Canadians (46%) think the health care system should fund abortions whenever they are requested, while more than a third (36%) believe the health care system should only fund abortions in the event of medical emergencies. Only 7% of Canadians think the health care system should not fund abortions at all.

Majorities of Quebecers (52%) and British Columbians (51%) support the health care system funding abortions whenever they are requested. The proportions are lower in Atlantic Canada (44%), Ontario (42%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (40%) and Alberta (38%).

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Canadians Ponder the Appropriateness of “No-Show Fees”

August 7, 2024August 6, 2024By Mario Canseco

Majorities endorse them for medical and grooming appointments, but there is a split on their use in restaurants.

Vancouver, BC [August 7, 2024] – Canadians are divided on whether restaurants should be allowed to charge a “no-show fee” when booked appointments are not kept, a new Research Co. has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 44% of Canadians say charging a “no-show fee” if a reservation is missed at a restaurant is “justified”, while 48% believe the practice is “unjustified”.

On a regional basis, most Quebecers (52%) think restaurants are “justified” in charging a “no-show fee”. The proportions are lower in Atlantic Canada (44%), British Columbia (43%), Ontario (42%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (41%) and Alberta (33%).

More than half of Canadians think “no-show fees” are justified if appointments are missed with the dentist (59%), a doctor or medical specialist (57%), the barber or hair salon (53%) or for pet grooming (51%).

Over the course of the past year, just over one-in-four Canadians (26%) say they have missed a reservation or appointment, while 74% have not.

“More than two-in-five Canadians aged 18-to-34 (43%) missed a booked appointment over the past year,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are significantly lower among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (27%) and aged 55 and over (9%).”

The most missed appointments belong to doctors and medical specialists (15%), followed by dentists (11%), restaurants (9%), barbers or hair salons (8%) and pet grooming (3%).

Canadians who were unable to meet a reservation or appointment cite personal issues (40%) as their main reason for not arriving. Other excuses mentioned by these respondents are scheduling (27%), transportation (26%), work (25%), family (24%) and the weather (21%).

More than four-in-five Canadians (85%) have not paid a “no-show fee” in the past year, while 15% had to cover a charge after missing an appointment. Dentists and doctors were the main recipients of “no-show fees” (7% each), followed by restaurants (6%), barbers and hair salons (4%) and pet grooming establishments (also 4%).

More than one-in-four Canadians aged 18-to-34 (27%) had to pay a “no-show fee” in the past year, compared to 13% among those aged 35-to-54 and 5% among those aged 55 and over.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from July 5 to July 7, 2024, among 1,001 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of 20.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Animosity Towards Trophy Hunting Keeps Rising in Canada

July 26, 2024July 25, 2024By Mario Canseco

Just over a third of Canadians are in favour of keeping animals in zoos or aquariums.

Vancouver, BC [July 26, 2024] – More than four-in-five Canadians are against the practice of hunting animals for sport, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 84% of Canadians are opposed to trophy hunting (+3 since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in August 2023), while 11% (-3) are in favour of the practice.

“Fewer than one-in-ten residents of British Columbia (7%) and Alberta (8%) are in favour of hunting animals for sport,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The numbers are slightly higher in Quebec (11%), Ontario (13%), Atlantic Canada (15%) and Manitoba and Saskatchewan (17%).”

Three-in-five Canadians (60%, -3) are in favour of hunting animals for meat, and just under seven-in-ten (69%, -6) are in favour of eating animals.

Canadians of Indigenous descent are more likely to say they are supportive of hunting animals for meat (78%) than those whose heritage is European (66%), East Asian (58%) and South Asian (29%).

At least two thirds of Canadians are opposed to two other practices: killing animals for their fur (78%, +1) and using animals in rodeos (67%, =).

Support for killing animals for their fur is highest in Atlantic Canada (26%). While 23% of men have no problem with this practice, only 11% of women feel the same way.

Using animals in rodeos is more accepted in Alberta (37%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 37%). The practice is also viewed more favourably by Conservative Party voters in the last federal election (40%) than among those who voted for the Liberal Party (23%) or the New Democratic Party (NDP) (21%) in 2021.

Keeping animals in zoos or aquariums remains a contentious issue. Just over a third of Canadians (36%, +1) are in favour of this practice, while fewer than three-in-five (57%, +1) are opposed.

Support for zoos and aquariums is highest among Canadians aged 55 and over (42%), but drops among those aged 35-to-54 (37%) and those aged 18-to-34 (29%).

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Japan is the Country Viewed Most Positively by Canadians

July 24, 2024April 30, 2025By Mario Canseco

Favourable perceptions of both the United States and Mexico have dropped by 10 points since the start of 2024.

Vancouver, BC [July 24, 2024] – More than seven-in-ten Canadians have a favourable view of Japan—the highest among 15 different nations—a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 71% of Canadians have a positive opinion of Japan, down two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in January 2024.

“More than four-in-five British Columbians hold a favourable view of Japan,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are also particularly high in Ontario (75%) and Alberta (74%).”

More than three-in-five Canadians hold a positive opinion of four other members of the G7: the United Kingdom (70%, -6), Italy (68%, -4), Germany (67%, -2) and France (65%, -4).

The favourable rating for France is higher in Atlantic Canada (72%), followed by Ontario (68%), British Columbia (67%) and Quebec (64%).

More than half of Canadians have positive views of South Korea (57%, -4) and the United States (54%, -10). Favourable perceptions on the U.S. are still significantly higher than the all-time low of 32% observed in July 2020.

Two thirds of Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in the last federal election (68%) have a positive opinion of the United States. The proportions are lower among those who cast ballots for the Liberal Party (57%) or the New Democratic Party (NDP) (44%) in 2021.

Fewer than half of Canadians (44%, -10) express a favourable view of Mexico, with positive perceptions falling markedly among Canadians aged 55 and over (41%) and Quebecers (also 41%).

Fewer than a third of Canadians hold favourable views of India (30%, -7), Venezuela (26%, -6), Saudi Arabia (25%, -2) and China (22%, -6).

At least three-in-ten residents of Atlantic Canada (35%), Ontario (31%), Quebec (30%) and British Columbia (also 30%) hold a positive opinion of India. The rating is lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (25%) and Alberta (22%).

The favourable rating for China is highest in Ontario (26%), and drops in Quebec (24%), British Columbia (19%), Atlantic Canada (also 19%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (18%) and Alberta (15%).

Fewer than one-in-five Canadians express a positive view of Russia (17%, +2), Iran (12%, -4) and North Korea (11%, -3).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from July 17 to July 19, 2024, among 1,001 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Canadians Question Effect of Proposed Sexual Education Policies

July 12, 2024July 11, 2024By Mario Canseco

Support for “SOGI-Inclusive Education” is strong among all Canadians and parents or guardians of children aged 0-to-18.

Vancouver, BC [July 12, 2024] – Practically half of Canadians endorse the use of “SOGI-Inclusive Education” in their province’s classrooms, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 48% of Canadians support this type of sexual education in schools. Just over three-in-ten Canadians (31%) are opposed to it, and 21% are undecided.

“SOGI-Inclusive Education” raises awareness of and welcomes students of all sexual orientations, gender identities and family structures. More than half of Canadian parents or guardians of children aged 0-to-18 (52%) support “SOGI-Inclusive Education”, while a third (33%) are opposed and 15% are not sure.

On average, Canadians think children should begin to learn about sexuality at the age of 12 and a half (12.51 years).

Canadians of European descent believe sexual education should start earlier (11.83 years) than their counterparts whose origins are Indigenous (12.47 years), East Asian (12.53 years) and South Asian (14.58 years).

On this question, the differences are slight in the average age provided by Canadians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) (12.03 years), the Liberal Party (12.24 years) and the Conservative Party (12.74 years) in the 2020 federal election.

Respondents were asked to weigh in on eight different policies that were introduced this year by the Government of Alberta. At least three-in-five Canadians agree with three of these ideas: banning top and bottom surgeries for minors aged 17 and under (66%, and 70% among parents), banning hormone therapies for gender affirmation and puberty blockers for minors aged 15 and under (61%, and 67% among parents) and compelling schools to advise parents and obtain their consent if a minor aged 15 and under wishes to alter their name or pronouns (60%, and 61% among parents).

Most Canadians and parents also voice agreement with three other policies: compelling schools to advise parents if a minor aged 16 or 17 wishes to alter their name or pronouns (59%, and 62% among parents), ensuring that parents “opt-in” any minors every time topics such as gender identity, sexual orientation or sexuality are discussed in the classroom (55%, and 61% among parents) and banning transgender women from taking part in women’s sports leagues competitions (54%, and 58% among parents).

Agreement is lower for two other policies: the provincial education ministry approving all third-party teaching materials on gender identity, sexual orientation or sexuality that are used in the classroom. (48%, and 50% among parents) and allowing minors aged 16 and 17 to start hormone therapies for gender affirmation if they have the approval of their parents, a physician and a psychologist (45%, and 44% among parents).

Canadians are not convinced that the outcome of these policies will be universally positive. Just under half think it is likely that parents will be in full control of the way their children learn about sexuality (48%) and that gender-diverse youth will be placed at risk (also 48%).

More than a third of Canadians also foresee medical practitioners (such as doctors and psychologists) being unable to assess the ethical and medical implications of individual cases (43%), gender-diverse youth being unable to seek support from teachers or school staff (also 43%), an increase in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (40%) and an increase in teenage pregnancies (35%).

“Canadian parents are more likely to predict a negative outcome from some of Alberta’s proposed sexual education policies,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “More than half (51%) think their implementation will place gender-diverse youth at risk.”

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from June 8 to June 10, 2024, among 1,001 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Canadians Becoming Less Proud of Economy and Multiculturalism

July 5, 2024June 25, 2025By Mario Canseco

The flag, the Armed Forces and hockey remain at the top the list of sources of pride for the country’s residents.

Vancouver, BC [July 5, 2024] – Over the past year, the perceptions of Canadians on two institutions and features of the country have become significantly more negative, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 65% of Canadians say multiculturalism makes them proud, down nine points since a similar Research Co. survey conducted in June 2023.

Canadians of European descent are less likely to be proud of multiculturalism (64%) than their counterparts whose origins are Indigenous (73%), East Asian (also 73%) and South Asian (84%).

Only 34% of Canadians (-8) say the Canadian economy makes them proud. Almost half of those who voted for the Liberal Party in 2021 (48%) are proud of the Canadian economy, compared to 32% among New Democratic Party (NDP) voters and 31% among Conservative Party voters in the last federal election.

“In 2019, four-in-five Canadians (80%) said they were proud of the national economy,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion has fallen by 46 points since then.”

More than four-in-five Canadians (82%, +2) say the Canadian flag makes them proud, and more than seven-in-ten feel the same way about the Canadian Armed Forces (72%, +2) and hockey (71%, -1).

More than half of Canadians are proud of Indigenous culture (63%, -3), bilingualism (58%, -6) and the state of democracy in Canada (55%, -6).

Bilingualism is more likely to be a source of pride for Canadians aged 18-to-34 (69%) than for their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (53%) and aged 55 and over (51%).

Fewer than half of Canadians are proud of the Canadian justice system (48%, -2) and the health care system (also 48%, -2).

Fewer than half of residents of Atlantic Canada (28%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (34%) and Quebec (46%) say the health care system makes them proud. The proportions are higher in Alberta (50%), British Columbia (52%) and Ontario (57%).

Fewer than two-in-five Canadians are proud of Parliament (38%, -7) and the monarchy (35%, -8).

Only 28% of Canadians who voted for the Conservatives in 2021 are proud of Parliament, compared to 28% for those who supported the New Democrats and 43% for those who voted for the Liberals.

The monarchy is more likely to be a source of pride for residents of British Columbia (45%). The proportions are lower in Ontario (39%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (35%), Alberta (29%), Quebec (32%) and Atlantic Canada (25%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from June 23 to June 25, 2024, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error – which measures sample variability – is +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

British Columbia is the Most Popular Destination for Relocation

June 19, 2024June 18, 2024By Mario Canseco

When asked where they would go if they had to move, British Columbians prefer Alberta and Quebecers look to Ontario.

Vancouver, BC [June 19, 2024] – British Columbia is a “top of mind” destination for residents of four Canadian provinces if they had to relocate within the country, a new Research Co. poll has found.

The online survey of representative samples in six Canadian provinces asked respondents to ponder a scenario in which they needed to move out and live in another region of Canada.

“British Columbia is in first place as a possible relocation destination in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Quebecers prefer Ontario and British Columbians put Alberta on top.”

In British Columbia, just under one-in-four residents (24%, -2 since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in August 2019) choose Alberta for relocation, followed by Ontario (19%, +3), Nova Scotia (8%, =) and Yukon (5%, +2).

British Columbians aged 18-to-34 and aged 35-to-54 favour Alberta over Ontario (33% to 19% and 31% to 18% respectively). Their counterparts aged 55 and over prefer Ontario to Alberta (19% to 14%).

In Alberta, half of respondents (50%, +3 since August 2019) select British Columbia, followed by Saskatchewan (11%, =), Ontario (10%, -1), Nova Scotia (4%, =) and Newfoundland and Labrador (3%, +1).

Majorities of respondents of both the Edmonton (56%) and Calgary (52%) metropolitan areas pick British Columbia as their destination, along with 62% of those who voted for the United Conservative Party (UCP) in the last provincial election.

In Saskatchewan, almost three-in-ten residents (29%) choose British Columbia, followed by Alberta (26%), Ontario (13%), Manitoba (7%) and Nova Scotia (4%).

Saskatchewanians aged 55 and over are particularly fond of British Columbia (42%), while those aged 35-to-54 prefer Alberta (33%) and those aged 18-to-34 pick Ontario (28%).

In Manitoba, 27% of residents choose British Columbia, followed by Alberta (24%), Ontario (11%), Saskatchewan (7%) and Nova Scotia (5%).

British Columbia is a popular destination for Manitobans aged 35-to-54 (31%) and aged 55 and over (26%), while those aged 18-to-34 prefer Alberta (31%).

In Ontario, practically a third of residents (32%) pick British Columbia, followed by Nova Scotia (15%), Alberta (12%), Quebec (6%) and Prince Edward Island (5%).

While British Columbia is the first choice for Ontarians among all three age groups, those aged 55 and over and aged 35-to-54 are more fond of Nova Scotia (18% and 16% respectively) than their counterparts aged 18-to-34 (6%).

In Quebec, more than a third of residents (34%) select Ontario, followed by British Columbia (19%), New Brunswick (9%), Alberta (8%) and Prince Edward Island (4%).

New Brunswick is a popular destination for Quebecers aged 35-to-54 and aged 55 and over (12% each), as well as among those who voted for the Parti Québécois (PQ) (16%) or the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) (12%) in the last provincial election.

Methodology: Results are based on online surveys conducted from March 29 to March 31, 2024, among 800 adults in British Columbia, 600 adults in Alberta, 600 adults in Saskatchewan, 600 adults in Manitoba, 600 adults in Ontario and 600 adults in Quebec. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region for each province. The margin of error – which measures sample variability – is +/- 3.5 percentage points for British Columbia and +/- 4.0 percentage points for the remaining provinces, 19 times out of 20.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Acceptability of Pornography and Prostitution Drops in Canada

June 14, 2024June 13, 2024By Mario Canseco

Almost three-in-five Canadians (58%, +5 since 2023) think abortion is “morally acceptable”.

Vancouver, BC [June 14, 2024] – Canada’s moral compass has experienced sizeable changes on two issues related to human sexuality, in spite of a pronounced gender gap, a new Research Co. poll has found.

The online survey of a representative national sample asked Canadians whether they considered 21 different issues as “morally acceptable” or “morally wrong.”

Fewer than three-in-ten Canadians believe pornography (28%, -4 since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in May 2023) and prostitution (25%, -7) are “morally acceptable”.

“Only 20% of Canadian women think pornography is morally acceptable, and 17% feel the same way about prostitution,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “In stark contrast, pornography is morally acceptable for 39% of Canadian men, and 34% have no moral qualms about prostitution.”

The numbers did not shift drastically on other issues, with more than two thirds of Canadians finding four issues as “morally acceptable”: contraception (76%, +1), divorce (72%, +1), sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman (70%, +1) and having a baby outside of marriage (67%, -2).

Almost three-in-five Canadians (58%, +5) say abortion is “morally acceptable”—a proportion that rises to 66% among Canadians aged 55 and over, 65% in British Columbia and 64% in Quebec.

More than half of Canadians see three other issues as “morally acceptable”: physician-assisted death (57%, -1), sexual relations between two people of the same sex (55%, -2) and medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos (also 55%, =).

Sizeable majorities of Canadians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) (70%) and the Liberal Party (64%) in the last federal election have no moral reservations about same-sex relations. Among Conservative Party voters in 2021, the proportion stands at 39%.

More than a third of Canadians regard three issues as “morally acceptable”: gambling (49%, -3), the death penalty (40%, +1) and buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur (34%, +4).

Canadians aged 35-to-54 are more likely to believe gambling is morally acceptable (53%) than their counterparts aged 55 and over (48%) and aged 18-to-34 (46%).

Canadian men are less likely to have moral reservations about buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur (43%) than their female counterparts (27%).

Fewer than one-in-four Canadians believe eight other issues are “morally acceptable”: medical testing on animals (23%, +1), cloning animals (19%, -1), polygamy (17%, -4), suicide (also 17%, -3), married men and/or women having an affair (16%, -2), using illegal drugs (14%, -5), cloning humans (13%, +2) and paedophilia (5%, -2).

One-in-four Quebecers (25%) think married men and/or women having an affair is “morally acceptable”. The proportions are lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (16%), British Columbia (also 16%), Ontario (15%), Atlantic Canada (8%) and Alberta (6%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted on June 1 to June 3, 2024, 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.

Almost Half of Canadians Would Decrease Legal Immigration

June 12, 2024June 11, 2024By Mario Canseco

The perception of immigration having a negative effect in Canada has increased for the second consecutive year.

Vancouver, BC [June 12, 2024] – The views of Canadians on immigration have become more negative over the past few months, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 44% of Canadians think immigration is having a mostly negative effect in the country, up six points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in October 2023.

A slightly smaller proportion of Canadians (42%, -3) say immigration is having a mostly positive effect in the country, while 14% (-3) are undecided.

While more than half of Canadians aged 18-to-34 hold positive views on immigration (55%, -3), the proportions are significantly lower among their counterparts aged 55 and over (37%, -12) and aged 35-to-54 (32%, -12).

This month, 46% of Canadians (+7) think the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to relocate in Canada should decrease. Just over three-in-ten (31%, -6) think there should be no change, while 15% (-2) want to increase legal immigration levels.

Majorities of Atlantic Canadians (53%) and Ontarians (also 53%) are in favour of reducing legal immigration levels in Canada. The proportions are lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (50%), British Columbia (48%), Alberta (42%) and Quebec (34%).

“About two-in-five Canadians who voted for the Liberal Party (41%) or the New Democratic Party (NDP) (39%) in the last federal election would decrease legal immigration to Canada,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion jumps to 63% among Canadians who supported the Conservative Party in 2021.”

Two thirds of Canadians (66%, -9) believe the hard work and talent of immigrants makes Canada better, while 65% (=) think immigrants should only be allowed in Canada if they adopt Canadian values.

As was the case last year, Canadians remain split when assessing two different concepts related to immigration. While 44% (-1) would prefer for Canada to be a mosaic, where cultural differences within Canadian society are valuable and should be preserved, 42% (=) would embrace the concept of the melting pot, where immigrants assimilate and blend into Canadian society.

There are some striking gender and ideological differences on this question. Men (50%) and Conservative voters (58%) favour the melting pot, while women (48%), Liberals (also 48%) and NDP voters (54%) are fonder of the mosaic.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Pessimistic Views on Health Care Take Hold in Canada

June 6, 2024June 5, 2024By Mario Canseco

The proportion of Canadians who think the system should be completely rebuilt has jumped to 23% in 2024.

Vancouver, BC [June 6, 2024] – The perceptions of Canadians on the health care system have become more negative in the past year, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, almost one-in-four Canadians (23%) think Canada’s health care system has so much wrong with it that we need to completely rebuild it, up six points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in April 2023.

Just under one-in-five Canadians (19%, -1) think Canada’s health care system works well, and only minor changes are needed to make it work better, while more than half (53%, -3) say there are some good things in Canada’s health care system, but many changes are required.

Fewer than two thirds of Canadians (64%) are “very confident” or “moderately confident” that the country’s health care system would be there to provide the help and assistance that they would need if they had to face an unexpected medical condition or disease. This represents a 15-point drop from the first time Research Co. asked this question, in January 2019.

This year, confidence in the health care system is highest in Ontario (68%), followed by Alberta (67%), Quebec (64%), British Columbia (also 64%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 64%). Perceptions are lower, by a significant margin, in Atlantic Canada (49%).

When asked about the biggest problem facing the health care system, 37% of Canadians (+2) select a shortage of doctors and nurses, followed by long wait times (24%, +1) and bureaucracy and poor management (14%, -3).

Fewer than one-in-ten Canadians mention four other issues: inadequate resources and facilities (8%, -1), little focus on preventive care (5%, -1), lack of a wider range of services for patients (4%, -2) and insufficient standards of hygiene (3%, +2).

“Concerns about health care in Canada vary greatly across the country,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Quebecers are more preoccupied with long wait times (30%) than the national average, while Atlantic Canadians and British Columbians are worried about a shortage of doctors and nurses (53% and 41% respectively).”

Fewer than one-in-five Canadians (19%, +1) believe the federal government should make cuts to health care funding in order to reduce government debt.

More than a third of Canadians (35%, +2) believe health care in Canada would be better than it is now if it were run by the private sector. While only 24% of Canadians aged 55 agree with this statement, the proportions rise to 35% among those aged 35-to-54 and to 46% among those aged 18-to-34.

Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in the last federal election are more likely to think that health care delivery would be superior under the private sector (48%) than those who cast ballots for the Liberal Party (31%) or the New Democratic Party (NDP) (21%) in 2021.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 20 to May 22, 2024, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

Exposing Egg Carton Deception at Loblaw

June 4, 2024June 3, 2024By Mario Canseco

Download the full report and data tables.

We polled 1,000 Loblaw customers from May 7 to May 10 and the results show that due to egg carton designs and marketing claims, Loblaw customers are being misled into believing that eggs from caged chickens are cage-free.

For context, the cage confinement of egg-laying chickens has emerged as a prominent issue for Canadians. Heightened consumer familiarity, catalyzed by comprehensive media scrutiny and undercover exposés documenting severe food safety, quality, and animal welfare problems has prompted an avalanche of corporate cage-free egg commitments.

In 2016, Loblaw announced it would transition exclusively to selling cage-free eggs by 2025. Its rationale was articulated in its Corporate Responsibility Report that year, where the company stated, “Our customers expect that the products we sell are safe, of high quality, responsibly sourced, and produced in a humane way.”

While the company has since abandoned the 2025 timeline, it continues to assure customers that its ultimate goal remains to eventually only sell cage-free eggs. However, it recently disclosed that in 2023, a staggering 83% of the eggs it sold still came from chickens confined in cages. So, we polled Loblaw customers.

Respondents were shown images of various cartons of eggs from caged hens that depict farm scenes and asked whether they think the eggs are cage or cage-free. Overwhelmingly, far more respondents (in every single demographic group) mistakenly thought they come from cage-free hens than correctly identified them as coming from caged hens.

For example, our poll found that nearly half of Loblaw customers (46%) inaccurately believe that egg cartons with the term “Nestlaid” contain cage-free eggs, even though those eggs actually come from caged hens. Similarly, our poll found that 45% of Loblaw customers inaccurately believe that egg cartons with the term “Nature’s Best” contain cage-free eggs, even though those eggs come from caged hens.

Perhaps most strikingly, 82% of Loblaw’s customers would favour the company adding colour-coded shelf tags that identify which eggs are cage-free and which are not. As well, over three quarters of Loblaw customers (76%) favour open barns to cage confinement. That number is nearly identical (73%) when given the choice between open barns and so-called “enriched cages” (a type of cage used by some egg producers in Canada).

Along with the vast confusion over egg carton marketing, the results indicate that Loblaw consumers support open housing for hens and think they’re already buying cage-free eggs but are, in fact, being misled into purchasing eggs from caged hens.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study commissioned by The Accountability Board and conducted by Research Co. from May 7 to May 9, 2024, among 1,000 adult Canadians who have gotten groceries at Loblaws or Loblaws-affiliates in the last three months. 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 +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Download the full report and data tables.

Canadians Regard Biden as Superior to Trump in White House

May 29, 2024May 29, 2024By Mario Canseco

More than a quarter of Canadians think Donald Trump was the real winner of the 2020 United States presidential election.

Vancouver, BC [May 29, 2024] – Almost half of Canadians hold positive views on the tenure of the current American president, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 48% of Canadians say having Joe Biden as President of the United States since January 2021 has been “very good” or “good” for Canada, while three-in-ten (30%) think the current White House dweller has been “bad” or “very bad”.

More than half of Quebecers (57%) and British Columbians (52%) hold positive views on Biden’s time in the White House. The proportions are lower in Atlantic Canada (49%), Ontario (45%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (44%) and Alberta (32%).

Just under three-in-five Canadians (59%) think having Donald Trump as President of the United States from January 2017 to January 2021 was “bad” or “very bad” for Canada, while 29% believe Trump was “very good” or “good”.

A third of residents of Alberta (33%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 33%) have a positive view of Trump’s term as president. Trump’s rating is lower in Atlantic Canada (30%), Ontario (29%), British Columbia (28%) and Quebec (25%).

“In August 2020, more than seven-in-ten Canadians (73%) regarded Trump’s presidency as detrimental to Canada,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion has dropped by 14 points in just under four years.”

As was the case four years ago, Canadians are divided when asked about the behaviour of elected officials, with 46% (+3) wanting Canadian politicians to speak their mind if they are concerned about the U.S. presidential election, and 46% (=) wanting them to stay neutral and avoid public statements during the American campaign.

Canadians also have contrasting views on whether the country should have a system similar to the American one, where voters can cast a ballot for presidential candidates. Across Canada, 42% of respondents agree with this idea, while 44% disagree and 14% are undecided.

While only 37% of Canadians who voted for the Liberal Party in the 2021 federal election would welcome a “presidential system” in Canada, the proportion rises slightly to 40% among those who backed the New Democratic Party (NDP) and jumps to 56% among those who cast ballots for Conservative Party candidates.

Almost two thirds of Canadians (65%) say it matters to them who wins this year’s presidential election in the United States. Canadians aged 55 and over are more likely to feel this way (74%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (63%) and aged 18-to-34 (57%)

Three-in-ten Canadians (30%) say they would vote for Robert Kennedy Jr. in the 2024 presidential election if they lived in the United States. Support for the independent presidential candidate on this question is highest in Ontario (36%) and lowest in Alberta (14%).

More than a quarter of Canadians (27%) say Donald Trump was the real winner of the 2020 United States presidential election. More than three-in-ten British Columbians (31%), Canadians aged 18-to-34 (36%) and Conservative voters in the last federal election (39%) express this point of view.

Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from May 20 to May 22, 2024, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error – which measures sample variability – is +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

An End to Fights in Professional Hockey Seen Positively in Canada

May 17, 2024May 16, 2024By Mario Canseco

More than three-in-four Canadians—and four-in-five hockey fans—would ban heads shots in the professional game.

Vancouver, BC [May 17, 2024] – By a 2-to-1 margin, Canadians are on side with the notion of outlawing fighting in professional hockey, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 61% of Canadians (+1 since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in December 2021) support banning fighting in professional hockey, while 30% (+1) are opposed and 9% (-3) are not sure.

Among Canadians who describe themselves as “hockey fans, who truly enjoy watching the game”, support for a ban on fighting in professional hockey reaches 50% (+4).

“Three-in-four Canadians of South Asian descent (75%) are willing to end fighting in professional hockey,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Majorities of Canadians whose heritage is East Asian (64%), European (61%) or Indigenous (54%) share the same view.”

The notion of banning head shots in professional hockey remains popular, albeit at a lower level than in 2021. Three-in-four Canadians (76%, -6) and four-in-five “true fans” (81%, -8) voice support for this directive.

More than three-in-five Canadians (63%) and two thirds of “true fans” (67%) believe the game of hockey would be better off without head shots. Fewer Canadians and “true fans” (44% and 39% respectively) think the effect will be positive if fights are outlawed from hockey.

More than a quarter of Canadians (27%, =) believe professional hockey has become a more violent sport over the past five years. More than a third of Quebecers (37%) and Ontarians (35%) agree with this assessment. The proportions are lower in Atlantic Canada (33%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (32%), British Columbia (29%) and Alberta (20%)

Some Canadians have developed a more negative attitude towards hockey in the past couple of years. One-in-four (25%, +5) would encourage their kids to avoid playing the sport as a result of recent violent incidents, and the same proportion (25%, =) would watch fewer hockey games than they currently do. A slightly smaller number of Canadians (24%, +4) would refrain from buying products from companies that sponsor professional hockey.

More than half of Canadians (57%, +5) believe the National Hockey League (NHL) is doing a “very good” or “good” job in looking after the safety of its players—a proportion that rises to 86% among “true fans”.

Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from May 6 to May 8, 2024, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error – which measures sample variability – is +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Find our data tables here and here, and download the press release here.

Canadians Taking Different Routes to Deal with Inflation

May 15, 2024May 14, 2024By Mario Canseco

More than half are shopping around for bargains, instead of acquiring all groceries and toiletries in the same store.

Vancouver, BC [May 15, 2024] – Most Canadians say they are paying more for specific items now than in November 2023, and dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs is directed primarily at governments and retailers, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, more than two thirds of Canadians say the price they pay for five items has increased in the past six months: vegetables (79%), fruits (77%), beef (73%), chicken (also 73%) and bread (68%).

More than half of Canadians also report more expensive cereal (65%), prepared frozen meals (65%), laundry detergent (60%), shampoo (58%) and soap (56%).

One third of Canadians (33%) think the actions of governments are primarily to blame for items becoming more expensive, while just under one-in-four (23%) think the actions of supermarket retailers and grocery stores are chiefly responsible.

Fewer Canadians point the finger at the actions of product manufacturers and suppliers (18%), global political conflicts affecting supplies (15%), labour and supply setbacks (7%), climate change (6%) or the actions of farmers and growers (2%) for the rising costs of the items they buy.

“More than half of Albertans (54%) blame the actions of governments for the rising cost of groceries and toiletries,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Only 26% of Quebecers feel the same way.”

There are some striking political differences on this question. Canadians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the last federal election are more likely to believe that the actions of supermarket retailers and grocery stores are to blame for rising costs (36%) than those who voted for the Liberal Party (26%) or the Conservative Party (18%).

Conversely, half of Conservative voters in 2021 (50%) think the actions of governments are responsible for the current scenario. Only 25% of Liberal voters and 15% of NDP voters concur.

More than three-in-four Canadians think the federal government (80%) and their provincial governments (76%) can do a lot to help lower the price of groceries.

More than half of Canadians have taken two actions to deal with higher prices in the past six months: buying items at different stores (instead of at a single one) (57%) and switching packaged food brands to lower priced alternatives (52%).

Fewer Canadians are using apps to collect points at a retailer (42%), using online coupons (35%) or using printed coupons (28%) Only 17% have boycotted or stopped going to a specific retailer.

Reliance on apps to collect points at a retailer is highest in Atlantic Canada (50%), followed by Saskatchewan and Manitoba (48%), Ontario (46%), Alberta (42%), British Columbia (40%) and Quebec (33%).

About a third of Canadians (32%) say their diet has not been healthy over the past two months—a proportion that rises to 37% among women, 37% among Canadians aged 18-to-34 and 36% among those in the lowest income bracket.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.