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.
Carney’s likability improves, Poilievre lags behind
Source: Angus Reid
Forty-six percent of Canadians say their opinion of Liberal leader Mark Carney has improved over the past few weeks—including 20 percent of those who voted Conservative in the 2021 election, 56 percent of past NDP voters, and 47 percent of those who supported the Bloc Québécois in the last election.
In comparison, only 13 percent of Canadians report an improved opinion of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, 4 percent for NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. Meanwhile, 9 percent of Quebecers say their view of Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet has improved.
Notably, 37 percent of Canadians say their opinion of Poilievre has worsened over the past few weeks, compared to 25 percent for Carney, and 33 percent for Singh.
In terms of overall favourability, Carney is the only leader viewed favourably by more than half the country. Fifty-five percent of Canadians have a favourable opinion of him, compared to 36 percent who do not view him favourably. Poilievre has had declining favorability for some time. In June of 2024, the Angus Reid Institute reported his favourability at 39 percent. Currently, he is seen favourably by 35 percent and unfavourably by 59 percent.
In January, Singh is viewed favourably by just 33 percent of Canadians, while 58 percent hold an unfavourable opinion of him. In Quebec, 50 percent of residents view Blanchet favourably, compared to 35 percent who view him unfavourably.
Poilievre introduced a few policy proposals this week that may boost his favourability, with both young and older voters.
Focusing in on young voters breaking into the housing market, Poilievre promised a Conservative government would remove the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from all homes under $1.3 million, resulting in up to $65,000 of savings on a new home or $3,000 less in annualized mortgages. Last week, the Carney Liberals announced they would eliminate GST only for first-time homebuyers on homes at or under $1 million.
“This tax cut will save Canadians up to $50,000—allowing more young people and families to enter the housing market and realize the dream of homeownership,” Carney said in his announcement. Current federal rules dictate that new homes under $350,000 are fully eligible for a GST rebate, with a partial rebate available for homes up to $450,000.
Poilievre also committed to keeping the retirement age at 65, breaking the precedent of the last Conservative government, which had it at 67. Poilievre also vowed to allow working seniors to earn up to $34,000 tax-free, an increase of $10,000 from the current level. According to the Conservatives, the measure would save individual seniors $1,300 a year in federal taxes.
