National Newswatch

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Shifting perspectives: More Canadians now prioritize trade opportunities over China’s human rights record

Political economy isn’t a zero-sum game, but relationships ebb and flow. The best evidence of this in 2026 is Canada’s re-engagement with China as the traditional foundation of economic cooperation with the United States becomes more tenuous. New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians, much like their government, more open to economic opportunities with China than they...

Federal Government Satisfaction

This week, we surveyed Canadians on politics, government performance, and key national issues.

Nik Nanos

LPC 39, CPC 35, NDP 12. - Concern about Trump/US relations on the rise, closing gap with jobs/the economy

Concern about Trump/US relations is on the rise, up six points in four weeks. Jobs/the economy remains the top national issue of concern. There is a four-point gap between the Liberals and the Conservatives in ballot support. While Carney is ahead of Poilievre in the preferred PM by 28 percentage points.

David Coletto

At a Crossroads: How Canadians Think the Conservative Party Should Change (or Not

Between January 12 and 16, 2026, Abacus Data surveyed 2,008 Canadian adults as part of a special polling series examining public opinion about the Conservative Party of Canada and its leader, Pierre Poilievre.

Nik Nanos

Ontarians show strong support for increasing funding and staff in hospitals – Most believe there isn’t currently enough staff in Ontario hospitals

Over nine in ten Ontarians support (79%) or somewhat support (15%) the provincial government increasing funding to hospitals, so they do not have to cut staff or reduce surgeries. A similar proportion support (79%) or somewhat support (18%) increasing the number of hospital staff to treat more patients in a timely way. Support is also strong for the government releasing...

David Valentin

Ontario vs. Manitoba: Voters Torn Between Protecting Local Jobs and Harming Neighbours

A new provincial survey conducted by Liaison Strategies reveals a complex balancing act in public opinion regarding Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s threat to remove Crown Royal from LCBO shelves. While a majority of Ontarians support using the LCBO's market power to defend local jobs, there is significant concern regarding the potential collateral damage to workers in Manitoba.

Federal Politics: Carney receives post-Davos bump in approval, though vote intention picture remains tight

Prime Minister Mark Carney prompted international headlines – and late-night Truth Social posts – with his speech in Davos at the World Economic Forum last week, as he rebuked the predatory and unreliable nature of great economic powers and called on Canada and other so called “middle powers” to realign the global system around national autonomy and cooperation.

David Coletto

Canadians sharply divided on Pierre Poilievre’s leadership

David Valentin

Federal Tracker: Liberals Widen Lead to 8, 42% to 34%

A new Liaison Strategies national survey finds the Liberals continuing to pull away from the Conservatives, widening their lead to eight points. Among decided and leaning voters, the Liberals lead with 42% to the Conservatives' 34%, with the NDP at 10% and the Bloc Québécois at 8%. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney's approval rating has climbed again, now reaching 62%...

Nik Nanos

Canadian consumer remains tentative.

Canadian consumer confidence remains gripped in neutrality with a score at 50.36 points on the 100 point diffusion index. People are two and one half times more likely to believe that the Canadian economy will get weaker rather than stronger in the next six months.

Bruce Anderson

Approval of Carney government rises to 64%; 78% believe arrangement with China on canola and cars was the right thing to do.

Two thirds think the Conservatives should replace Poilievre, including 27% of Conservative voters. Since a noticeable dip in November, approval levels for the Carney government have reversed course and sit at 64% nationally. Approval is over 66% in every region but Alberta, where it stands at 57%. Approval is over 60% with every age group. These are results from the...

David Coletto

Who is in the Conservative Party “base” and how does it differ from other Canadians

Between January 12 and 16, 2026, Abacus Data surveyed 2,008 Canadian adults as part of a polling series with the Toronto Star examining public opinion about the Conservative Party of Canada and its leader, Pierre Poilievre. This second installment explores the composition and values of the Conservative coalition, with particular focus on the party’s base: the 23 percent of Canadians...

David Valentin

Ontario: PCs Lead, But 65% Disapprove of Ford

New Liaison Strategies tracking data shows the Progressive Conservatives continue to lead province-wide, but the political environment is increasingly defined by broad dissatisfaction: nearly two-thirds of Ontarians say the province is headed in the wrong direction and Premier Doug Ford’s job approval remains sharply negative. The PCs have lost 5 points since a high of 47% in October.

David Valentin

Alberta: UCP & NDP Locked in Tight Race

A new Liaison Strategies survey finds Alberta’s two main parties in a competitive contest, with the United Conservative Party (UCP) holding a narrow edge over the Alberta NDP. If a provincial election were held today, 46% of voters would support the UCP Party, compared with 44% for the NDP.

David Coletto

Where the Conservative Party and Pierre Poilievre Stand in Public Opinion

Between January 12 and 16, 2026, Abacus Data surveyed 2,008 Canadian adults as part of a new research series examining public opinion about the Conservative Party of Canada and its leader, Pierre Poilievre, as he faces a leadership review vote at the party’s convention at the end of the month. This first installment establishes the baseline: where the Conservatives stand...

Nik Nanos

Liberals 39, Conservatives 35, NDP 12 – Jobs/the economy, Trump/US relations and inflation round out top national issues of concern of Canadians.

Concern about US president Trump is up although still trails jobs/the economy as the top national issue of concern. The Liberals have a marginal advantage over the Conservatives but Carney leads Poilievre by 26 percentage points when Canadians are asked who they would prefer as PM.

David Valentin

Majority of Canadians Oppose U.S. Military Action in Venezuela

On the one-year anniversary of the second inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, a new national survey from Liaison Strategies reveals that a significant majority of Canadians are opposed to U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. 64% of respondents oppose the United States using military force to remove Nicolás Maduro from power, while only 32% support such action. "As the world...

David Valentin

Liberals Widen lead to 5, 40% to 35%

A new Liaison Strategies national survey finds the Liberals widening their lead over the Conservatives. Among decided and leaning voters, the Liberals lead with 40% to the Conservatives 35%, with the NDP at 11% and the Bloc at 8%. Meanwhile, Mark Carney’s approval rating is up once again to 57%. Liaison surveyed a random sample of 1,000 Canadians from January...

Nik Nanos

Waiting to exhale: Canadian consumer confidence trapped in neutral

Nanos conducted an RDD dual frame (land- and cell-lines) telephone random survey of 1,084 respondents in Canada. This report is based on the four waves of tracking ending January 16th, 2026. The margin of error for a random survey of 1,084 Canadians is ±3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The research was commissioned by the Bloomberg and was conducted by Nanos Research.

David Coletto

New Year, Same Deadlock: Liberals and Conservatives Tied as Trump Re-Emerges and Voters Stay Cautious

Between January 9 and 14, 2026, Abacus Data surveyed 1,850 Canadian adults, offering our first snapshot of the federal political landscape in the new year.

David Coletto

Canadians Open to an Early Election if Framed Around Stability or a Parliamentary Reset

Between January 9 and 14, 2026, Abacus Data surveyed 1,850 Canadian adults to better understand how Canadians would react to the possibility of an early federal election.

David Coletto

Canadians split on Maduro’s removal but reactions hinge on views of Trump

Between January 9 and 14, 2026, Abacus Data surveyed Canadian adults as part of its national omnibus survey to understand how Canadians are processing the dramatic events in Venezuela following President Donald Trump’s U.S. military operation to remove Nicolás Maduro from power and take Maduro into U.S. custody. The intervention, announced on January 3, has triggered a fast moving and...

David Coletto

Ontario PCs Start 2026 in Front, But Appetite for Change Grows as Affordability and Health Care Define the Risk

Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives begin 2026 in a dominant position. Our latest survey finds the PCs continue to hold a wide lead on vote intention and remain the default choice for many Ontarians. But beneath that topline advantage, there is a building undercurrent of restlessness. Nearly half now say it is definitely time for a change in government...

U.S. Military Intervention in Venezuela: Almost one in three Canadians say U.S. might try to invade Canada

In the wake of the recent U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, a new Leger survey reveals a striking level of concern among people in Canada about the future direction of American foreign policy — including fears that Canada itself could one day be targeted.

Nik Nanos

Overall positivity continues under Carney – Residents of the Prairies are twice as likely to describe themselves as feeling anger towards the federal government compared to residents of Quebec.

Nanos conducted an RDD dual frame (land- and cell-lines) hybrid telephone and online random survey of 1,077 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, between December 27th and 29th, 2025, as part of an omnibus survey. Participants were randomly recruited by telephone using live agents and administered a survey online. The sample included both land- and cell-lines across Canada. The...

Nik Nanos

Liberals 39, Conservatives 36, NDP 11 – Carney ahead of Poilievre by 22 points on preferred PM tracking.

The Weekly Nanos Tracking is produced by the Nanos Research Corporation, headquartered in Canada, which operates in Canada and the United States. The data is based on random interviews with 1,000 Canadian consumers (recruited by RDD land- and cell-line sample), using a four-week rolling average of 250 respondents each week, 18 years of age and over. The random sample of...

Nik Nanos

Canadians more likely to give positive rather than negative ratings of Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s performance in dealing with the US trade dispute

Nanos conducted an RDD dual frame (land- and cell-lines) hybrid telephone and online random survey of 1,077 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, between December 27th and December 29th, 2025, as part of an omnibus survey. The margin of error for this survey is ±3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Nik Nanos

Rejection of US-made good on the rise.

Nanos conducted an RDD dual frame (land- and cell-lines) hybrid telephone and online random survey of 1,009 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, between November 29th and December 2nd, 2025 as part of an omnibus survey. The margin of error for this survey is ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Nik Nanos

Majority of Canadians believe that keeping U.S. liquor out of government owned liquor stores is the best path forward for provincial governments.

David Valentin

Federal Tracker: Liberals Lead, 39% (+1) to 36% (-1)

A new Liaison Strategies national survey finds the Liberals maintaining a modest advantage over the Conservatives. Among decided and leaning voters, the Liberals lead with 39% to the Conservatives 36%, with the NDP at 12%and the Bloc at 8%. Meanwhile, Mark Carney’s approval rating has inched upward after several weeks of steady decline. Liaison surveyed a random sample of 1,00...

Nik Nanos

Consumer confidence stranded in neutral

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David Valentin

PCs Lead in Nova Scotia, But NDP Leads in Halifax

A new Liaison Strategies survey of Nova Scotia voters finds Premier Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives holding a 19-point lead on ballot support and strong numbers on approval, healthcare, and the province’s relationship with Ottawa but the province-wide numbers mask an NDP lead in Halifax where the opposition party leads 40% to 31%. If a provincial election were held today, 50%...

Mario Canseco

Three-in-Ten Albertans Open to Independence from Canada

The proportion of Albertans who are in favour of sovereignty has increased over the past year and a half, a new Research Co. poll has found. In the online survey of a representative national sample, 31% of Albertans support Alberta becoming a country independent from Canada, up nine points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in June 2023. Just...

Nik Nanos

Young embrace Artificial Intelligence – More than eight in ten under 35 years of age report AI use.

Nanos conducted an RDD dual frame (land- and cell-lines) hybrid telephone and online random survey of 1,009 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, between November 29th and December 2nd, 2025, as part of an omnibus survey. The margin of error for this survey is ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Nik Nanos

Liberals 38, Conservatives 36, NDP 12 – Jobs/the economy tops concerns of Canadians

Support for the Liberals and Conservatives remains gripped within the margin of error of the Nanos tracking. Jobs/the economy clearly tops list of national issues of concern.

Nik Nanos

Right track sentiment recovers after record low under PM Trudeau- Views on federal provincial relations hits 19 year record high.

The research gauged the opinions among Canadians on their opinions on the current federal government, the direction of the country, the relationship between the federal and provincial governments, and Canada’s international reputation.

Nik Nanos

Consumer confidence mired in neutral. Ontarians and BC’ers negative.

Consumer confidence nationally remains mired in neutral. Of note, Ontarians have the most negative consumer confidence followed by British Columbians. Confidence in those two provinces is the most negative.

David Valentin

Federal Tracker: Liberals Lead, 38% to 37%

The federal political landscape has tightened into a dead heat to start the new year, according to the latest Weekly Federal Tracker from Liaison Strategies. The survey shows a significant narrowing of the gap between the two leading parties, the race is a literal tie among decided and leaning voters, with the Liberals at 38% and the Conservatives at 37%...

David Valentin

PCs lead OLP 44% to 35%, Ontarians Skeptical of Highway 401 Tunnel Expansion

A new Liaison Strategies poll conducted for Focus Ontario shows the governing Progressive Conservatives maintaining a 9-point lead over the Ontario Liberals among decided voters. However, the survey also finds significant public opposition to the provincial government's proposal to build a tunnel under Highway 401, with a majority of Ontarians favoring other infrastructure and social priorities. Conducted from December 5-7...

David Valentin

Liberals 39% (+1), Conservatives 37% (-1)

A new national Liaison Strategies poll conducted over the weekend shows the Liberals up one point to 39%, while the Conservatives slip one to 37%. The federal NDP remains in double digits, but is down one point to 11%. Conducted from December 19-28, 2025, using Interactive Voice Response (IVR), the survey polled 1,000 Canadians, with the sample split evenly between...

Nik Nanos

2025 closes out in a neutral consumer confidence posture

Canadian consumer confidence closes out the year in a neutral posture with a score near 50 on the 100-point diffusion index. Views related to the future strength of the Canadian economy and person finances remain net negative while perceptions on the future value of real estate remains net positive.

David Valentin

Toronto: Chow leads Tory, 39% (-3) to 35% (-1)

December 23, 2025 (Toronto, ON) – A new Liaison Strategies poll for the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) finds Toronto mayor Olivia Chow leading in a potential re-match with former Toronto mayor John Tory, 39% to 35%. Brad Bradford, the first candidate to declare their intention to run for mayor, follows in third with 16% (+4)...

David Valentin

Liberals, Tories Tied at 38%

A new national Liaison Strategies poll conducted over the weekend for the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada shows the Carney Liberals continuing to slide and now tied with the Conservatives at 38%. The Federal NDP stays steady at 12% nationally, and maintains 19% in British Columbia. Conducted from December 19-21, 2025, using Interactive Voice Response (IVR), the...