Opinion: 67% agree Canada is broken — and here’s why

Canadians say their government is increasingly out of step with the issues that matter to them

By Andrew Enns and Heather Owen

The first time we heard the phrase, it was simply a great sound bite: “Canada is broken.” Months later, the hashtag count keeps climbing, and the phrase has become something of a battle cry.

With all the noise, our team at Leger asked Canadians if the assertion resonates with them. We were somewhat taken aback to learn that 67 per cent of Canadians agree with the statement: “It feels like everything is broken in this country right now.” It’s one thing when a sentiment is a catchy sparring point between party leaders and pundits, but quite another when two-thirds of Canadians agree.

Although it may come as a surprise, it’s not just the stereotypical angry old man who agrees that the country is “broken” (although this group is decidedly in that camp). In fact, women are more likely to agree the country is broken (70 per cent) then men (64 per cent), as are those under 55 (72 per cent) versus those 55 and older (61 per cent). Regionally, agreement with this sentiment is highest in the Prairies (74 per cent in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and 73 per cent in Alberta) and lowest in Quebec (59 per cent).

With a prevailing opinion that things are not going well in the country (i.e., everything’s broken), it should not be a shock that Canadians’ moods are not good. Half of Canadians in our survey said they are angry about the way the country is being managed, with one in five reporting they are very angry.

Anger is a complex emotion that can arise when individuals feel frustrated or powerless. Our survey findings suggest that this nationwide anger may be the result of a disconnect between what Canadians believe are the most critical issues of the day and the frustration they feel about where they perceive the government is focusing efforts.

This nationwide anger may be the result of a disconnect

Today, Canadians’ top concerns are directly tied to things that impact their daily lives and the lives of their families: the rapidly rising costs of pretty much everything they need to live, as well as the state of health care.

Our survey reveals that while Canadians feel these issues are very important, they don’t feel they are important to their governments. Sixty-eight per cent of Canadians say rising costs — including inflation and interest rates — are their biggest issue today. By contrast, only 28 per cent believe the federal government sees this issue as a top priority. In addition, 59 per cent of Canadians say health care is a top concern, but only 25 per cent think it’s where the federal government is primarily focused.

Governments say they are aware of Canadians’ concerns and are taking actions to address these. However, official responses seem to default to assessing problems instead of fixing them. Perhaps it is the nature of this government action that is giving rise to anger?

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The notion of brokenness raises the question of how the relationship between citizens and those elected can be repaired. Perhaps the question of “is Canada broken” should be replaced by “Is Canada able to act on citizens’ concerns and show they are making an impact?” Although, we acknowledge the latter does not lend itself as a catchy hashtag.

In no way are we suggesting that addressing the complex policy challenges of our day is a series of easy tasks. And given Canadians’ moods today, making progress on these issues will have the added challenge of navigating through a now angry, dare we say cynical, population.

With the next sitting of Parliament upon us, perhaps it is time for our country’s leaders to pause their game of taking shots at each other and find ways to show Canadians they are listening to and acting upon their frustrations. This approach may temper some of the anger and frustration Canadians are feeling. However, it may not be as interesting for one’s social media feeds.

Special to National Post

Andrew Enns, EVP and Heather Owen, VP are part of Leger’s Central Canadian team. The survey data is from Leger’s Omnibus Study, conducted from Jan. 20-22, 2023, among 1,554 Canadians. For more information visit leger360.com