Rising Cost of Living Dominates Canadian Concerns, Nanos Reports

New findings from Nanos Research reveal that the increasing cost of living is the foremost issue for Canadians, reflecting a significant shift in their priorities for the Parliamentary agenda. A survey commissioned by CTV News indicates that 26 percent of respondents now cite the cost of living as their top concern, up from 21 percent in September. Other prominent issues include employment and the economy, as well as ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, which saw a decline in concern from 21 percent to 17 percent during the same period.

In a recent interview on CTV Power Play with host Vassy Kapelos, Nik Nanos, the founder and chief data scientist of Nanos Research, highlighted the persistent anxiety surrounding trade relations with the U.S. He noted that this issue has remained near the top of Canadians’ concerns for over a year. “Worry and concern about (U.S. President) Donald Trump and U.S. trade has also spiked in the last week or so,” Nanos stated, alluding to Prime Minister Mark Carney‘s remarks at the World Economic Forum last month, where he addressed economic coercion and the use of tariffs as leverage, without specifically naming the United States.

Trump, in his subsequent speech, warned Canada to express gratitude towards the United States. Nanos commented on the volatility of public opinion, explaining that concern regarding Trump has consistently ranked among the top two issues. “Currently, there is a statistical tie between worry about Trump and worry about jobs,” he said, while noting a recent uptick in anxiety surrounding Trump’s policies.

Canadians Divided on Floor Crossing Protocol

In addition to economic concerns, Canadians are nearly evenly divided on how Members of Parliament (MPs) should handle floor crossing, according to the same Nanos Research data. The survey reveals that 33 percent of Canadians believe MPs who wish to change parties should resign and trigger a byelection, adhering to the mandate of their new party. An almost equal proportion, 32 percent, supports the idea that MPs should be allowed to switch parties without additional conditions. Meanwhile, 31 percent advocate for defecting MPs to serve as Independents until the next general election.

These findings emerge in the wake of two notable floor crossings, where Conservative MPs transitioned to the Liberal Party. The first was Chris d’Entremont, who made his move shortly after the federal government presented its budget in early November. The second was rookie MP Michael Ma, who crossed the floor in mid-December. Speculation also surrounded Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux, who was thought to be considering a party switch but ultimately announced his intention to resign his seat by spring.

The context of these floor crossings is significant, especially as the governing Liberals have been two seats shy of a majority following the April election. Additionally, two long-serving ministers from the Trudeau administration have stepped down, necessitating byelections later this year to fill their vacant seats.

The Nanos figures also indicate that opinions on the three options for MPs—triggering a byelection, changing parties, or sitting as Independents—are largely consistent across various demographics, showing no significant variations based on gender or age.

As Canadians navigate these pressing issues, the impact on government policy and party dynamics remains to be seen, but the prevailing sentiment underscores a desire for transparency and accountability in political representation.