The Week in Polling: Young British Columbians want to escape their costly province, Trudeau’s successor, mandatory national service in the U.K., and the Edmonton Oilers

Canadians prefer a replacement for Trudeau as the federal Liberal leader

Polling shows that the vast majority of Canadians are ready to move on from Prime Minister Trudeau as they hope for a new federal Liberal Party leader to succeed him before the next election, expected by October 2025.

With the Liberals far behind the Conservatives in federal polls and with Trudeau’s approval rating at an all-time low, the majority of Canadians are hoping for a replacement.

In another poll, by Abacus Data, Canadians found Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and former governor of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney to be the top two choices for Trudeau’s successor.

The U.K. is split on Prime Minister Sunak’s proposal of mandatory national service for 18-year-olds

Across the pond, campaigning British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to bring national service to the U.K. for the first time in more than 60 years in hopes of restoring “democratic values [that] are under threat.” His opponent, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, said the national service announcement reflected the Conservative Party’s “desperation” for votes. However, those votes might not come in as expected, as the population is divided on the policy, with a majority of respondents on the opposing side.

Canadians united in cheering for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final

It has been three years since a Canadian team has played in the Stanley Cup Final and more than 30 years since one has won the Cup. The Edmonton Oilers have gained the support of Canadians across the country as they represent the Great White North in their battle against the Florida Panthers.

Many hockey fans across Canada, no matter their regular season affiliation, are hoping to hear La Bamba play louder than ever on hockey’s biggest stage.