This is The Week in Polling, your Saturday dose of interesting numbers from top pollsters in Canada and around the world, curated by The Hub. Here’s what we’re looking at this week.
Two-thirds of Canadians are unable to name a Canadian journalist they trust
Source: Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy
Global trust in media has reached a record low of 40 percent. This country is no exception, with 67 percent of Canadians unable to name a single Canadian journalist they find trustworthy.
Among the remaining 33 percent, the most trusted Canadian journalists were from mainstream outlets, such as Radio-Canada and CTV, or were journalists who had retired or stepped away from the news business. For instance, trust was often extended to figures like Peter Mansbridge, the retired national news anchor for the CBC.
Speaking of Mansbridge’s former employer, the CBC is facing its first formal mandate review since the 1990s. Several calls have been made, including from Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative party, to defund the national public broadcaster, and perhaps even dismantle it. However, the vast majority of Canadians, 78 percent, would like to see the CBC continue production as long as it addresses some of its major criticisms.
According to about 30 percent of Canadians, some pressing issues plaguing the CBC begging for correction include biased reporting, being too woke, and telling people what to think. This week, The Hub‘s managing editor Harrison Lowman was asked to appear on CBC Radio to explain why so many conservatives have switched off the national broadcaster.
Forty-five percent of Canadians are not confident the Trudeau government can tackle crime
Source: Abacus Data
Various crime rates in Canada have risen significantly. Violent crime, especially, has surged by 30 percent in the last decade, rising from 1,095 incidents per 100,000 people in 2013 to 1,427 in 2023.
According to The Hub‘s own analysis by data journalist Kiernan Green, the violent crimes committed most frequently in 2023 were assault (not using weapons or resulting in harm), uttering threats, and assault employing weapons or resulting in harm.
Nearly half of the population has lost confidence in the government’s ability to stop crime and manage public safety issues.
A majority (57 percent) of Canadians say crime will be a major factor in their voting decision come the next federal election. Thirty-seven percent of Canadians said the Conservatives had the best plan for tackling this issue. Meanwhile, 15 percent of Canadians said the Liberals had the best approach. The NDP garnered the support of 12 percent of Canadians.
Many Canadians support cutting personal income taxes
Source: Abacus Data & The Logic
When it comes to steps Canadians want their government to take to boost the economy, slashing personal income taxes is at the top of the list. Next is improving affordable housing access.
More than 20 percent more Canadians support this than measures aimed at addressing climate change, advancing green industries, and promoting green energy and sustainable development.
Additionally, about 49 percent of Canadians think the government would best grow the economy by creating an environment where businesses can thrive without special support, i.e. subsidies.
Since 2021, the number of young Canadian homeowners decreased by over 20 percent
Source: Scotiabank
In 2021, 47 percent of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 owned a home. But in 2024, just three years later, that number was 26 percent—a 21 percent decrease.
Canada’s housing crisis has been largely driven by rapid population growth, particularly through immigration, and insufficient housing construction to meet the newfound demand. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates that an additional 3.5 million housing units are needed by 2030 to “restore affordability.” As the poll indicates, young people have had difficulty breaking into the housing market as home scarcity and high costs become more pressing.
In response to the housing crisis, this week Poilievre proposed eliminating the GST on new homes priced under $1 million, aiming to reduce costs for new buyers and facilitate the construction of new homes. Poilievre asserts that this tax cut could save Canadians approximately $40,000 on an $800,000 home and potentially add 30,000 new homes across the country annually.
Aiden Muscovitch is a student at the University of Toronto studying Ethics, Society and Law. He has served as The Hub's Assistant Editor and writes The Week in Polling. He has also worked as an intern for Conservative Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Chong.
