Canadians less happy now than they were in the year Trudeau came to power: survey

Canadians are less happy with their lives now than they were when Justin Trudeau first won power, according to a new survey.

The Angus Reid Institute’s poll found that, earlier this year, 36 per cent of people asked said they were unhappy. In 2015, the year the Liberals defeated the Tory government of Stephen Harper, only 18 per cent told the pollster they were unhappy.

The proportion of people who said they were “pretty happy” also declined, from 62 per cent in 2015 to 50 per cent in August 2024.

Angus Reid’s poll also found that certain groups are more likely to be unhappy, including:

• People earning less than $55,000 a year (47 per cent unhappy)

• Non-white people (45 per cent unhappy, versus 33 per cent among whites)

• People who’ve been in Canada less than 21 years (48 per cent)

• Men aged between 35 and 54 (46 per cent unhappy)

In its summary accompanying the survey, the Angus Reid Institute pointed to “a number of massive factors” that might explain perceptions of a decline in the quality of life in Canada.

“The COVID-19 pandemic was a traumatic and existentially challenging event, the impacts of which will be unfolding for years to come,” the think tank explained.

“One of the more immediate impacts of that event was the global economic challenges that emerged. Inflation skyrocketed across the globe and in Canada, has exacerbated already-present housing and affordability challenges for many. The increasing polarization of the past decade too has led Canadians to be less enthusiastic about the relationships they have with friends and family.”

The increase in dissatisfaction among Canadians since the Trudeau government came to power – whether coincidental or not – has also led to a decline in the Liberal Party’s popularity.

The latest polls suggest the prime minister’s party is between 13 and 24 points behind the Conservatives.

Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre has leaned into feelings of discontent as he campaigns to take over from Trudeau at the next election. One of his catchphrases is: "It wasn't like this before Trudeau, and it won't be like this after he's gone."

To read the full survey from Angus Reid, head here.