Abacus Data conducted a fresh national survey from February 5 to 10, gathering insights from 1,915 Canadian adults as part of our ongoing federal tracking.
The timing turned out to be quite intriguing. It follows the Conservative convention in Calgary and Pierre Poilievre’s leadership review. More importantly, it reflects public sentiment after several weeks of President Trump’s continued involvement on trade matters with Canada.
We’re seeing a clear change in the numbers.
For the first time in a while, Canadians aren’t overwhelmingly leaning toward pessimism. Currently, 42% believe the country is moving in the right direction while another 42% feel it’s on the wrong path. That might not seem dramatic at first glance, but if you’ve been following this measure over recent years, you’ll recognize how negative it has been. Throughout much of late 2024 and into 2025, those feeling we were on the wrong track consistently outnumbered those who believed we were heading in the right direction by significant margins. That gap has now narrowed.
What stands out is that this uplift in mood comes even as Canadians remain quite concerned about global issues. Seven out of ten think the world is going in the wrong direction and 76% feel similarly about the United States. It seems people are making a distinction between worldwide instability and Canada’s own progress. They may have reservations about global affairs but aren’t as downbeat about Canada as before.
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Affordability continues to be at the forefront of concerns. Sixty-four percent rank rising living costs among their top three priorities for the federal government, with economic issues coming next at 40%. That hasn’t shifted much. What has changed is how relevant Donald Trump and his administration are perceived. Now, thirty-nine percent list Trump among their top three priorities-effectively placing him alongside economic concerns as major topics within Canadian federal politics.
This matters because issue importance influences party advantage. On living costs, Conservatives have a slight edge-36% believe they would manage this best compared to 34% who favor Liberals. This gap is narrower than it has been previously but still exists.
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Regarding Trump, however, there’s a notable reversal of fortune for parties involved-63% of Canadians who view Trump’s administration as crucial say Liberals would handle this best compared to just 19% choosing Conservatives-a striking advantage of forty-four points. We’ve seen similar trends before: when Trump occupies center stage within Canadian political discussions, it tends to benefit Liberals significantly.
This matters because issue importance influences party advantage. On living costs, Conservatives have a slight edge-36% believe they would manage this best compared to 34% who favor Liberals. This gap is narrower than it has been previously but still exists.
Share
Regarding Trump, however, there’s a notable reversal of fortune for parties involved-63% of Canadians who view Trump’s administration as crucial say Liberals would handle this best compared to just 19% choosing Conservatives-a striking advantage of forty-four points. We’ve seen similar trends before: when Trump occupies center stage within Canadian political discussions, it tends to benefit Liberals significantly.
