Just 17 percent of Canadians support the Liberal government’s recently tabled federal budget, according to a new poll, compared to 40 percent who are opposed to it and 43 percent who are neutral.
The
Ipsos survey, conducted from April 17 to 18 with a sample of 1,001 Canadians, found that the budget had the most support in Atlantic Canada (29 percent) followed by Ontario (20 percent), and British Columbia (16 percent). Twelve percent supported the budget in Quebec, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, while the least support was found in Alberta (11 percent).
Additionally, 10 percent of Canadians surveyed said they believe the budget will help them, 37 percent said it will hurt them, and 53 percent were indifferent.
Among the concerns cited, a majority of Canadians surveyed (59 percent) said the budget puts too much emphasis on spending, 20 percent said it focuses too much on deficit reduction, and 21 percent said it strikes the right balance.
Additionally, 34 percent said the latest budget had made them less likely to vote Liberal, 8 percent said they were more likely to vote Liberal, and 58 percent said there had been no change in their views.
Sixty-five percent of Canadians surveyed said they disapprove of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s handling of the economy overall, while 35 percent support it.
Budget Outline
The 2024 budget, tabled by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland on April 16, proposes $53 billion in new spending over the next five years. That includes $8.5 billion in new spending on housing, such as a
$6 billion investment in housing infrastructure, a
$1.5 billion rental fund aiming to make rents more affordable, and $600 million in loans and funding to build homes.
The $535 billion budget
also increases the capital gains inclusion rate, or tax rate, to collect an extra $20 billion over the next five years, which Ms. Freeland said will impact the wealthiest 0.1 percent of Canadians. The budget projects the government will post a $40 billion deficit this fiscal year.
The leaders of the Conservatives, Bloc Québécois, and Green Party have said they will vote against the Liberals’ latest budget, while NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has said he would discuss the budget with the prime minister before deciding.
“We’ve got to hear from the prime minister and the Liberals on what their response is to our concerns before we make a decision,” Mr. Singh told
reporters on April 22.According to an Ipsos poll
from April 23, the Conservatives have maintained a 19-point lead over the Liberals, holding the support of 43 percent of Canadians compared to 24 percent for the Liberals, 19 percent for the NDP, and 8 percent for the Bloc Quebecois.
When asked which party they would never consider voting for in the next election, 32 percent of respondents said the Liberals, followed by 27 percent who said the Conservatives, 14 percent for the NDP, and 5 percent for the Bloc Quebecois. The remaining 23 percent said they were unsure.
