A new Angus Reid Institute (ARI) poll suggests that many Canadians believe Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is falling short on addressing housing affordability and the cost of living, two issues that were top priorities for voters in the 2025 federal election.
The survey, conducted earlier this month among 2,013 Canadians, found that 67 per cent of respondents said Carney's government has not met expectations on improving housing affordability, while 70 per cent felt the same about efforts to address the rising cost of living. Among self-identified Liberal supporters, 50 per cent and 54 per cent, respectively, also expressed dissatisfaction with the government's performance on these issues.
Top Priorities Not Receiving Adequate Attention
According to the poll, the issues most important to voters during the election—cost of living/inflation and health care—remain pressing, with 59 per cent and 41 per cent of respondents citing them as top concerns, up six and three points respectively from last year. However, relations with the United States, which dominated headlines after President Donald Trump's tariffs and annexation threats, have fallen in importance, dropping from 14 per cent to just 13 per cent, tying for seventh on the list of topics polled.
When asked about the biggest challenges in the year ahead, 52 per cent of respondents ranked reducing the cost of living as the top priority, with nearly half (48 per cent) of Liberal voters agreeing. Trump was cited as the second biggest challenge by 31 per cent of respondents.
Liberal Supporters Divided on Carney's Performance
The poll also revealed that Canadians are evenly split on whether Carney has delivered on his election promises, with 41 per cent saying he has and 41 per cent saying he has not. Among 2025 Liberal voters, 59 per cent said he has simply met expectations, while only 12 per cent said he has exceeded them. Seventeen per cent were unsure or could not say.
On climate change and environmental policy, 44 per cent of Canadians said Carney's government has fallen short, including 38 per cent of Liberal supporters.
Carney's Focus on International Trade and U.S. Relations
Since taking office, Carney has concentrated on managing the relationship with the United States, Canada's largest trading partner, while diversifying trade to other countries. His "Elbows Up" campaign aimed to strengthen Canada's independence on the world stage. However, the ARI noted that "concerns from Canadians over pocketbooks linger."
The poll underscores a disconnect between the government's priorities and those of the electorate, as many Canadians feel that domestic issues like housing and cost of living are not receiving the attention they deserve.
