A second survey this month has found the majority of Canadians think things are broken in the country.
The Abacus Data survey released on Thursday shows 65% of Canadians agree it feels like many things in Canada are broken – particularly in a handful of areas.
Many respondents said the healthcare system was doing worse than a few years ago (66%), followed by air travel (53%), government services (50%), the education system (49%), and customer service (46%).
“It’s hard not to worry that there is a deep seated potential for Canadians to get caught up in the ‘Canada is broken’ narrative,” said public-sector research director Richard Jenkins.
While four-in-ten said Canada was working equally to or better than a few years ago all-things-considered, no more than 16% said any of the areas improved.
The remaining six-in-ten who said the country was malfunctioning were split between blaming global factors and blaming the Canadian government.
Jenkins pointed to the three-in-ten who blame the government, and said the ‘Canada is broken’ narrative has power behind it.
“While only a minority currently blame government,” he said, “that minority has the potential to reshape the electoral map and party system in the forthcoming elections.”
Those who intended to vote Conservative were three-times more likely than any other party to have said things are worse and the government is to blame.
Earlier this month, Leger polling found 67% of Canadians agreed everything feels broken – a common statement of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
Half of respondents in the Leger poll said they were angry with the way Canada was being managed, and 68% said rising costs were the most important issues impacting them and their families.
Abacus Data conducted its survey between February 9th and 18th.
