A new poll from Angus Reid indicates that while Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre maintains significant support within his own base, his popularity has experienced a noticeable decline among past Conservative voters since last summer. The findings come amid a shifting political landscape in Ottawa, where Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals recently secured a slim majority in the House of Commons following three federal byelection wins and the defection of several opposition MPs.
Declining Support Among Conservative Voters
The latest data from this month shows that 57 percent of past Conservative Party of Canada voters want Poilievre to lead the party into the next election. This represents a significant drop from August 2025, when 68 percent of past CPC voters expressed the same preference. Concurrently, the percentage of respondents who believe Poilievre should step down or be replaced before the next election has risen from 18 percent to 30 percent.
Public Perception Remains Challenging
Angus Reid polls have consistently shown Poilievre struggling to gain majority approval from the general public throughout his leadership. The current survey reveals that 60 percent of Canadians hold unfavorable or very unfavorable views toward the Conservative leader, while only 33 percent report favorable or very favorable opinions. Seven percent of respondents indicated they were unsure about their feelings toward Poilievre.
Internal Support Shows Erosion
Among current Conservative voters, approximately three-quarters maintain favorable or very favorable opinions about their leader. However, this represents a decline from last summer when Poilievre reached a peak favorable rating of 88 percent among Conservative supporters in June 2025. The erosion of support comes as the party faces challenges following the Liberals' transition to majority government status.
Public Divided on Liberal Majority
The poll also examined public sentiment regarding the Liberals' newly acquired majority status, finding Canadians almost evenly split on whether this development benefits the country. Forty-four percent of respondents viewed the majority as positive because it would bring greater stability to the House of Commons, while 42 percent considered it negative because it no longer reflects the electorate's choices in last year's federal election.
These opinions diverged sharply along party lines, with 80 percent of Liberal voters characterizing the majority as good for Canada and 81 percent of Conservative supporters viewing it as bad. The political realignment follows five members of Parliament—four Conservatives and one NDP—crossing the floor to join the Liberal caucus in recent months.
Reasons for Political Defections
When asked about potential motivations for the recent floor crossings, Canadians offered multiple explanations. Forty-two percent believed the Liberals currently represent an appealing political option, while 33 percent viewed the moves as cynical attempts at job security. Forty-five percent attributed the defections to Poilievre pushing people away from his party, and 28 percent cited the perceived need for majority government during uncertain times.
The Angus Reid poll provides a comprehensive snapshot of Canada's political climate as parties position themselves for future electoral contests. While Poilievre retains substantial backing from his core supporters, the data suggests his appeal has diminished both within Conservative ranks and among the broader electorate, creating potential challenges for the opposition party as it navigates a changed parliamentary landscape.
