June 23, 2026

Every so often, it’s worth digging deeper into the data to understand some of the undercurrents of Canadian public opinion. Today, we dig into some of the generational and gendered differences and similarities in how Canadians are feeling and thinking about the country and its politics.

We find that Canadians are looking at the country, the economy, the federal government, and political leaders from very different starting points depending on where they are in life and whether they are male or female.

Younger Canadians are more focused on affordability, housing, job security, and building a stable life. Middle-aged Canadians — especially those aged 36 to 50 — are the most frustrated and politically unsettled. Older Canadians are more positive about Canada’s direction, more proud of the country, more supportive of Mark Carney and the federal government, and much more likely to see Donald Trump and U.S. tariffs as responsible for Canada’s economic challenges.

But gender cuts through all of this. Women are more likely to be concerned about the cost of living and healthcare, more likely to support the Liberals, and much less likely to have a positive impression of Pierre Poilievre.

Men are more likely to focus on the economy and immigration, more likely to blame the current federal government for the state of the economy, and more open to the Conservatives.

The result is a political environment where age and gender do not just describe opinion, they help explain it.

The national mood is divided, but not evenly across generations

Overall, Canadians are split almost evenly on the direction of the country. Forty-two per cent say Canada is headed in the right direction, 44% say it is off on the wrong track, and 14% are unsure.

But underneath that national split is a clear generational pattern.

The most negative group is Canadians aged 36 to 50. Only 34% say Canada is headed in the right direction, while 52% say the country is off on the wrong track. This is the only age group where wrong-track sentiment clearly dominates.

Among younger Canadians aged 18 to 35, opinion is also negative, but less intensely so: 41% say the country is headed in the right direction, while 43% say it is off on the wrong track. Interestingly, and perhaps counter-intuitively, younger women are more negative than younger men, with 46% of women aged 18 to 35 saying Canada is off on the wrong track compared with 41% of men.

By contrast, Canadians aged 51 to 64 are slightly more positive than negative, with 46% saying Canada is headed in the right direction and 42% saying it is off on the wrong track. Among those aged 65 and over, 48% say Canada is headed in the right direction, while 39% say it is off on the wrong track.

The most optimistic age-gender group is women aged 65 and over. A majority (53%) say Canada is headed in the right direction.

The national mood is not uniformly bleak or pessimistic. It is more anxious and frustrated among younger and middle-aged Canadians, while older Canadians — and especially older women — are more likely to see the country as moving in the right direction.

Canadians are focused on stability but what stability means changes by age

When asked what they are most focused on in their life right now, Canadians are most likely to say they are focused on keeping themselves and their family safe, healthy, and financially stable. Thirty-six per cent choose this response. Another 28% say they are focused on meeting basic needs like food, housing, and daily essentials.

That means almost two in three Canadians are primarily focused on either getting by or staying secure.

But the age-by-gender story is revealing.

Among younger Canadians aged 18 to 35, the focus is more dispersed. Thirty-two per cent say they are focused on safety, health, and financial stability, 22% on meeting basic needs, 24% on continuing to grow, learn, and live a meaningful and joyful life, and 13% on strengthening relationships and feeling connected to others.

Young adulthood, in this data, looks like a mix of ambition and pressure. Younger Canadians are not only trying to survive; many are still focused on growth, meaning, and connection. But that sits alongside clear affordability stress.

For those aged 36 to 50, life looks more constrained. Twenty-nine per cent say they are focused on meeting basic needs, while 35% are focused on keeping themselves and their family safe, healthy, and financially stable. This is the life stage where housing costs, family responsibilities, childcare, careers, debt, and long-term planning often collide.

Among Canadians aged 51 to 64, 33% are focused on basic needs and 35% on safety and stability. Among those aged 65 and over, stability becomes the dominant frame: 44% say they are focused on keeping themselves and their family safe, healthy, and financially stable.

Gender also matters. Women are more likely than men to say they are focused on basic needs (30% compared with 26%), while men are more likely to say they are focused on strengthening relationships and feeling connected to others – 12% compared with 7% of women.

That gap is especially large among younger Canadians. Nineteen per cent of men aged 18 to 35 say relationships and connection are their main focus, compared with just 7% of women the same age. Younger women, by contrast, are more focused on basic needs and growth.

This is an important clue about the broader public mood. Many Canadians are not simply worried about the economy in the abstract. They are assessing whether the basic systems and supports around them are stable enough for the life stage they are in.

National pride remains high, but older Canadians feel it more intensely

Despite the divided national mood, pride in Canada remains strong. Overall, 77% of Canadians say they are very proud or proud to be Canadian, including 45% who say they are very proud.

But the intensity of pride varies dramatically by age.

Among Canadians aged 18 to 35, 34% say they are very proud to be Canadian. Among those aged 36 to 50, the number is 36%. It rises to 53% among those aged 51 to 64 and 59% among those aged 65 and over.

The strongest expression of Canadian pride comes from women aged 65 and over. Two in three say they are very proud to be Canadian.

This is one of the clearest generational divides in the data. Younger Canadians are still mostly proud of Canada, but their pride is less intense. Older Canadians are much more likely to have a deep emotional attachment to the country.

We’ve seen that national pride can shape how people respond to threats, institutions, leaders, and political narratives.

The cost of living dominates, but the issue agenda is gendered and generational

When Canadians are asked which issues concern them most, the rising cost of living dominates. Two in three Canadians select it.

The next tier of issues includes the economy at 39%, healthcare at 35%, housing affordability and accessibility at 34%, and Donald Trump and his administration at 31%.

But again, age and gender reshape the story.

The rising cost of living is the top issue across every age group, but women are much more likely than men to select it. Overall, 71% of women cite the cost of living compared with 62% of men. The gap is especially large among those aged 36 to 50, where 76% of women select the cost of living compared with 62% of men.

Housing affordability is most acute among younger Canadians. Forty-two per cent of those aged 18 to 35 select housing affordability and accessibility, compared with 36% among those aged 36 to 50, 30% among those aged 51 to 64, and 24% among those aged 65 and over. Younger women are especially likely to cite housing, at 49%, compared with 35% of younger men.

Healthcare moves in the opposite direction. It is selected by 27% of those aged 18 to 35, 32% of those aged 36 to 50, 38% of those aged 51 to 64, and 43% of those aged 65 and over. Women are more likely than men to cite healthcare overall — 38% versus 31% — and older women are the most likely to do so, with 47% of women aged 65 and over selecting it.

The economy is more male-coded. Forty-four per cent of men select the economy compared with 35% of women. Among those aged 36 to 50, 49% of men cite the economy compared with 37% of women.

Immigration also produces a large gender gap. Thirty per cent of men select immigration compared with 19% of women. Among men aged 18 to 35 and 36 to 50, one in three cite immigration as a concern.

Trump and his administration is a much more salient issue for older Canadians. It is selected by 20% of those aged 18 to 35, 26% of those aged 36 to 50, 37% of those aged 51 to 64, and 45% of those aged 65 and over.

In other words, the public agenda is shared but not experienced the same way. The cost of living cuts across the electorate. But younger women are more focused on housing and job security. Middle-aged men are more focused on the economy and immigration. Older women are more focused on healthcare and affordability. Older Canadians generally are more concerned about Trump.

On the economy, Trump and U.S. tariffs are the main culprit, especially for older Canadians

Overall, a majority of Canadians think Canada’s in a recession but it varies wildy by age.

Asked who or what is most responsible for the current state of Canada’s economy, Canadians are most likely to blame Donald Trump and U.S. tariffs. Thirty-seven per cent choose this response.

Twenty-two per cent blame Mark Carney and the current federal government, 17% blame the previous Trudeau government, 12% blame global forces beyond Canada’s control, 4% blame the Bank of Canada, and 8% are not sure.

This question reveals one of the sharpest generational divides in the survey.

Among Canadians aged 18 to 35, blame is more evenly spread. Twenty-six per cent blame Trump and U.S. tariffs, 22% blame Carney and the current federal government, and 21% blame the previous Trudeau government.

Among those aged 36 to 50, Trump and tariffs lead at 31%, followed by the current federal government at 25% and the previous Trudeau government at 17%.

But among older Canadians, Trump becomes the dominant explanation. Forty-one per cent of those aged 51 to 64 blame Trump and U.S. tariffs, as do 50% of those aged 65 and over.

There is also a gender gap in who blames domestic political actors. Men are more likely than women to blame Mark Carney and the current federal government — 26% versus 19%. Women are more likely to say they are not sure — 11% versus 5%.

This tells us that Trump and tariffs are not simply foreign policy issues. They have become part of how many Canadians, especially older Canadians, interpret domestic economic conditions. For older voters, economic anxiety is closely connected to external instability and Canada’s relationship with the United States. For younger and middle-aged Canadians, responsibility is more contested and more likely to be directed at Canadian governments.

Mark Carney’s advantage is broad, but deepest among older women

Mark Carney has a clear image advantage over Pierre Poilievre and Avi Lewis.

Overall, 51% of Canadians have a positive impression of Carney, while 30% have a negative impression. Seventeen per cent are neutral and only 2% say they do not know enough to have an opinion.

Carney’s image improves with age. Among those aged 18 to 35, 46% have a positive impression of him. Among those aged 36 to 50, 44% do. That rises to 53% among those aged 51 to 64 and 64% among those aged 65 and over.

His strongest group is women aged 65 and over. Sixty-nine per cent have a positive impression of Carney, compared with 59% of men the same age.

Carney’s weakest group is Canadians aged 36 to 50, where his positive impression is 44% and his negative impression is 36%. Men in this age group are especially resistant: 38% have a negative impression of him.

This mirrors the broader mood data. The group most likely to think Canada is off on the wrong track is also the group where Carney is weakest. The group most likely to think Canada is headed in the right direction is where he is strongest.

Poilievre’s challenge is not awareness, it is polarization, especially among women

Pierre Poilievre is also well known, but his image is more negative than positive. Overall, 38% of Canadians have a positive impression of him, while 44% have a negative impression.

The gender divide is substantial. Forty-three per cent of men have a positive impression of Poilievre compared with 32% of women. At the same time, 47% of women have a negative impression of him compared with 41% of men.

The gap is largest among older Canadians. Among men aged 65 and over, 40% have a positive impression of Poilievre and 51% have a negative impression. Among women aged 65 and over, only 26% have a positive impression while 62% have a negative impression.

Poilievre’s strongest group is men aged 36 to 50, where 51% have a positive impression. This is also the age-gender group most aligned with the Conservatives in vote intention.

The Conservative leader’s challenge is clear. He has a strong base among men, particularly middle-aged men, but faces significant resistance among women and especially older women.

Avi Lewis remains undefined, with a particular awareness challenge among women

NDP Leader Avi Lewis is much less defined than either Carney or Poilievre.

Overall, 18% have a positive impression of him, 26% have a negative impression, 31% are neutral, and 25% say they do not know enough to have an opinion.

His positives are highest among younger Canadians. Twenty-seven per cent of those aged 18 to 35 have a positive impression of Lewis, compared with 17% among those aged 36 to 50, 15% among those aged 51 to 64, and 12% among those aged 65 and over.

But the bigger issue is awareness. Thirty per cent of women say they do not know enough about him to have an opinion, compared with 20% of men. Among women aged 18 to 35 and 51 to 64, 32% say they do not know enough.

Lewis is also more negatively viewed by men. Thirty-two per cent of men have a negative impression of him compared with 21% of women.

Federal government approval is positive, but again the age pattern is clear

Overall, 55% of Canadians approve of the job the federal government led by Mark Carney is doing, while 30% disapprove and 15% neither approve nor disapprove.

Approval is positive across every age group, but it is weakest among those aged 36 to 50 and strongest among those aged 65 and over.

Among Canadians aged 18 to 35, 54% approve and 25% disapprove. Among those aged 36 to 50, 48% approve and 36% disapprove. Among those aged 51 to 64, 56% approve and 33% disapprove. Among those aged 65 and over, 63% approve and 29% disapprove.

Women aged 65 and over are again the most supportive group. Sixty-seven per cent approve of the Carney government, while only 25% disapprove.

This reinforces the central pattern in the data. Carney and the federal government are not simply performing well overall; they are performing especially well among older Canadians and older women. Their vulnerability is among middle-aged Canadians, especially men.

Federal Vote Intention: The Liberal vote is powered by older Canadians and women

If an election were held today, the Liberals lead nationally with 45% support, followed by the Conservatives at 37%, the NDP at 9%, the Bloc Québécois at 6%, the Greens at 2%, the People’s Party at 1%, and another party at 1%.

But the national number masks very different age-gender coalitions.

Among Canadians aged 18 to 35, the Liberals lead with 40%, followed closely by the Conservatives at 36%. The NDP is at 16%, its strongest result among any age group. Younger women are especially likely to support the NDP, with 21% saying they would vote NDP compared with 11% of younger men.

Among those aged 36 to 50, the Conservatives lead. Forty-two per cent would vote Conservative compared with 38% Liberal and 10% NDP. But the gender split is important. Men aged 36 to 50 choose the Conservatives over the Liberals by 46% to 35%. Women the same age choose the Liberals over the Conservatives by 40% to 37%.

Among Canadians aged 51 to 64, the Liberals have a much clearer lead, with 50% support compared with 35% for the Conservatives and 5% for the NDP.

Among those aged 65 and over, the Liberal lead is even larger: 54% Liberal, 34% Conservative, and 3% NDP. Among women aged 65 and over, the Liberals lead the Conservatives by 61% to 27%. Among men the same age, the Liberals lead by a narrower 48% to 39%.

This is the Liberal coalition in the data: older voters, women, and especially older women. The Conservative coalition is more male, more middle-aged, and strongest among men aged 36 to 50. The NDP coalition is younger and more female.

The Upshot

The main story in this data is that Canadian public opinion is being sorted by life stage and gender.

Younger Canadians are anxious about affordability, housing, job security, and whether they can build the kind of life previous generations expected. They are less intensely proud of Canada, more open to the NDP, and more politically fluid. Younger women are especially concerned about cost of living and housing, while younger men are more open to the Conservatives and more focused on immigration and the economy.

Canadians aged 36 to 50 are the most politically frustrated group in the country. They are the most likely to say Canada is off on the wrong track, the least approving of the federal government, the least positive about Carney, and the only age group where the Conservatives lead. But this cohort is deeply gendered: men lean clearly Conservative, while women are more divided and slightly Liberal.

Canadians aged 51 to 64 are more positive about the country and more favourable to Carney and the Liberals, though still concerned about affordability, healthcare, and the economy.

Canadians aged 65 and over are the strongest foundation of the Liberal coalition. They are more proud of Canada, more likely to approve of the Carney government, more likely to view Carney positively, more likely to blame Trump and U.S. tariffs for economic conditions, and more likely to vote Liberal. Women aged 65 and over are the clearest expression of this coalition.

The broader implication is that Canadian politics is not just divided by ideology. It is divided by experience. A 28-year-old woman worried about housing and job security, a 44-year-old man frustrated with the economy, a 58-year-old woman concerned about healthcare and affordability, and a 72-year-old woman worried about Trump and proud of Canada are not living the same political reality.

That is the challenge for anyone trying to engage the public right now. The electorate is not one mood. It is many moods shaped by age, gender, and the pressures of everyday life. Fundamentally, Canadian public affairs and opinion are shaped by this simple observation: The youngest Canadians are trying to build stability. Middle-aged Canadians are trying to protect it. Older Canadians are looking for leaders and institutions that can preserve it.

Methodology

The survey was conducted with 3,080 Canadian adults from June 12 to 17, 2026.

A random sample of panelists was invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the PureSpectrum platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to help manage potential skews that can arise from relying on a single source.

The data were weighted according to census figures to ensure the sample matched the Canadian population.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 1.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Totals may not add to 100 due to rounding.

Abacus Data conducts national public opinion research to better understand the attitudes, priorities, and expectations of Canadians. This survey is part of our ongoing federal political tracking study measuring public opinion, political preferences, leadership evaluations, and issue priorities across the country.

The survey was paid for by Abacus Data.

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