Canadians are increasingly disappointed with the country’s direction, as a majority of Canadians report being pessimistic about Canada’s future.
An Angus Reid poll has found that 52% of Canadians are either very or moderately pessimistic about the future of Canada, compared to the 48% who are optimistic.
Frustration with the country’s direction is apparent in English-speaking provinces, as none of these provinces have a positive rating below 50%.
Westerners hold an especially pessimistic outlook on Canada’s future, as 57% of Manitobans, 61% of Albertans and 65% of Saskatchewan’s residents aren’t content with the country’s direction.
In contrast, Quebecers are much more optimistic about the country’s future, as only 43% are pessimistic.
The Angus Reid poll revealed that while individual Canadians are more optimistic about their own futures, this stat is also declining.
34% of Canadians are pessimistic about their own futures, a 15% increase from the 19% benchmark set in 2018.
Optimism about an individual’s future is dependent on their income level, as 45% of Canadians making under $25,000 per year are pessimistic about their futures.
Confidence in Canada’s future has been declining in recent years. In 2017, Angus Reid posed the same question and found that 65% of Canadians were optimistic about their country’s future compared to the 35% who weren’t.
An Abacus Data poll paints a more dismal picture of Canadian confidence in the direction of the country, as it shows that 49% of Canadians believe the country is on the wrong track compared to 35% approving of the direction the country is headed.
Canada’s exit from the Covid-19 pandemic has been difficult for many Canadians, as record government spending has resulted in a historically-high inflation rate of 7.7%, hitting low-income families the hardest.
This year alone, gasoline prices have increased by 48%, energy prices have increased by 34.8%, and food prices have increased by nearly 10%.
Further, the federal government has struggled to mitigate the crises at passport offices and airports across the country, as Canadians have been subject to long delays and wait times to access basic government services.
