Only 12% of Canadians very hopeful about democracy, Statistics Canada survey finds

Only 12% of Canadians surveyed said they are "very hopeful" about the future of democracy, according to a Statistics Canada study published Tuesday based on data collected between 2022 and 2024. The results reveal a sharp confidence divide tied to institutional trust.

Seventy-one percent said they are "little or somewhat hopeful," while 17% said they are "not at all hopeful." Among those very hopeful, 67% reported high confidence in parliament; that figure drops to 38% for those little or somewhat hopeful, and falls to 11% for those not at all hopeful. Trust in news outlets shows a similar pattern: 59% of the very hopeful trust media outlets, compared with 43% of the somewhat hopeful and 17% of those not at all hopeful.

Andrew Dawson, an associate professor in the Department of Global and Social Studies at York University's Glendon Campus, said the findings "do not necessarily indicate that Canadians have lost faith in the democratic system." He noted that "some skepticism toward democracy can be healthy." Among factors contributing to lower hopefulness, Dawson cited polarization and distrust in democratic institutions. He also pointed out that democracy relies on consent and legitimacy rather than coercion—when people's attitudes toward the system shift, "governing becomes more difficult." Some countries, he added, are experiencing democratic decline that was previously thought to apply only to emerging democracies.

Toronto residents interviewed by NOW Toronto had mixed views on the future, though most said they believe their vote matters.