More than half of Canadians remain unconvinced by the federal government’s approach to tackling the country’s affordability crisis, according to a new survey even as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent fuel tax suspension receives cautious approval from a majority of respondents.
The Abacus Data poll, conducted this month among 2,000 Canadians, paints a picture of a public that is neither hostile nor enthusiastic about Ottawa’s efforts but one that is quietly waiting to be persuaded.
When asked whether they were satisfied with the federal government’s response to the cost of living, only 32 percent of Canadians said Carney is doing what he “reasonably can.” The remaining responses told a more complicated story. Nearly a quarter 23 percent felt cost of living issues haven’t been made enough of a priority, while 21 percent acknowledged Carney’s intentions but doubted whether his policies would translate into real relief. A further 12 percent went further, suggesting Ottawa’s approach could actually make things worse, and 11 percent said they simply didn’t know what to think.
Abacus Data CEO David Coletto summed it up carefully: the public mood, he said, is one of “cautious acceptance” appreciative of action, but hungry for something more substantial.
It’s a delicate position for a newly elected prime minister. Carney isn’t facing outright public rejection, but the window of trust is narrow, and Canadians are watching closely.
Earlier this month, Carney announced a temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline and diesel, running from April 20 through Labour Day. The move, framed as a direct response to fuel price spikes tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict, is expected to save drivers up to 10 cents per litre on gas and four cents per litre on diesel.
The public’s reaction? Warm, but measured.
Sixty-four percent of those polled said the cut would help reduce the cost of living to some degree. However, only 13 percent believed it would help “a lot” a telling number that suggests most Canadians see this as a small band-aid on a larger wound. Twenty-nine percent said they don’t expect it to help at all.
Coletto noted the policy earned a net positive assessment of +35 broadly welcomed, but far from seen as transformative.
Enthusiasm for the fuel tax relief wasn’t uniform across the country. Saskatchewan and Manitoba led the optimism, with 68 percent expecting at least some benefit. Ontario followed closely at 67 percent. Alberta, perhaps unsurprisingly given its historically complex relationship with federal energy policy, was the most skeptical region only 53 percent anticipated relief, while 37 percent expected none.
The generational split was arguably more striking. Among Canadians aged 18 to 29, a full 77 percent said the policy would help with 25 percent believing it would make a significant difference. Optimism dropped considerably among those aged 30 to 44, where 36 percent expected no benefit at all. Older Canadians, those 45 and up, sat somewhere in the middle acknowledging potential relief, but not banking on it.
The fuel tax suspension is expected to cost the federal government roughly $2.4 billion. Critics, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, have argued the measure doesn’t go far enough. Poilievre had called for a broader fuel tax elimination including the Clean Fuel Standard surcharges and the GST on fuel which he claimed would save an average family of four around $1,200 a year, or roughly 25 cents per litre at the pump.
For now, the government’s more modest approach appears to have landed without backlash but also without fanfare. Canadians, it seems, are willing to give Carney time. Whether that patience holds will likely depend on what comes next.
