What do Canadian voters want most? A tilt towards centre right, a lower cost of living and better health care.

• Canadians broadly like describing themselves as centrists (65% do so). At the same time, they are more likely to tilt towards the centre right than the centre left, at least if the definition of centre right is more focus on economic and fiscal concerns and centre left is more focus on social and environmental matters. The plurality of Canadians wants a centrist government that focuses on fiscal and economic matters.

• While Canadians mostly do not say they want left or right government, more say they want “right of centre” (23%) than say they want left (13%).

• For the Liberal Party, it is worth noting that all of the voting groups that most contributed to their success in 2015, have a plurality wishing for a government that is “centrist with a focus on economic and fiscal” matters. This includes women, younger people, Ontario, Quebec and BC voters. 

• When it comes to Canadians’ top policy priorities, we offered a list of 11 possible priorities and asked people to pick their top 4. The top priorities were working to cut the prices of groceries, wireless and fuel, improving health care, reducing taxes, more affordable homes and less immigration.

• Well down the list of priorities selected were fighting climate change, investing in more programs like dental care, pharmacare and childcare, strengthening the military, combating hate and divisiveness, and shutting down the CBC. Balancing the budget was in the middle of the pack.

• Among current Conservative voters the priorities are somewhat different from the average for the country as a whole. Cutting taxes, immigration, the cost of living and balancing the budget are at the top of the list. Improving health care ranks just next. Conservatives are far less interested than the national average in fighting climate change and investing in programs like dental, pharma and childcare. Conservative voters do not put a particularly high priority on strengthening the military, shutting down the CBC or reducing divisiveness and hate.

• Among voters under 30, cutting the cost of living, cutting taxes, and more affordable homes are at the top of the list as is improving health care. Young people are more interested than average in balancing the budget, cutting taxes and reducing divisiveness and hate.

Our Takeaway

Bruce Anderson: “On the heels of a better than originally expected outcome for the Conservative Party in BC, and with the federal Conservatives polling 22 points ahead of the Liberals in our data, it is increasingly clear that the centrist tendencies of Canadians – while they remain – are pointed more towards economic and fiscal priorities. People are struggling with the cost of living, and this is also putting a priority on reducing taxes, something which is undoubtedly fueling interest in eliminating the carbon tax (even though it would not have that expected impact).

As our past research has revealed, Canadians tend to see the Trudeau government as quite a bit further to the left than they would prefer. The preference for a centre-right style government is clear among many groups that were pivotal to the Liberals’ success in coalition building in 2015.

Conservative voters show relatively low interest in shutting down the CBC, strengthening the military, and put a greater priority than others on balancing the budget. They care less than other Canadians about fighting climate change.”

Young people – compared to historical patterns – show a greater interest in lower taxes and a balanced budget than might have been expected. This is due to a growing acceptance of the argument that more government spending tends to deliver higher cost of living because it ends up increasing taxes or inflation.

There is one other issue that bears noting here – in our research people have grown very frustrated with the health care system and see a need for more urgent reform and improvement. It is not unusual for health to be considered a high priority, but the underneath the top level finding here, we are convinced that this is a more potent issue than is usually the case.”

Fred Delorey, Northstar Public Affairs: "As Canadians face growing economic challenges, it's becoming increasingly clear that a pragmatic approach to government—one that prioritizes affordability, economic stability, and accessible healthcare—resonates across the country. People want policies that directly address their day-to-day struggles, and this sentiment is cutting across traditional political lines. It's not about ideology, but about delivering results that make life more affordable and secure for all Canadians."