Two Thirds (66%) of Canadians Approve of Trudeau
Government's Performance

Toronto, ON - Riding high from the Official State Visit to Washington D.C. last week, Canadians still appear to be in the honeymoon phase with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government, according to a new Ipsos poll conducted exclusively for Global News. Approval ratings of the Trudeau government overall and its management of the economy, specifically, are high, but Canadians appear to be taking a wait-and-see attitude, giving the government the benefit of the doubt for the time being.

Two thirds (66%) of Canadians `approve' (21% strongly/44% somewhat) of the performance of the Liberal government under the leadership of Justin Trudeau, compared to just one in three (34%) who `disapprove' (18% strongly/16% somewhat). By comparison, just prior to Election Day, 42% of Canadians `approved' of the Harper Tories' performance, while a majority (58%) `disapproved'.

With the economy being first and foremost on the minds of Canadians, a significant test for the government will be Trudeau's first federal budget to be tabled in the House of Commons by Finance Minister Bill Morneau on Tuesday. Despite the challenges facing the Canadian economy, six in ten (59%) Canadians `approve' (12% strongly/46% somewhat) of the federal government's overall management of the Canadian economy, while four in ten (41%) `disapprove' (19% strongly/22% somewhat). During the federal election, 51% of Canadians `approved' of the Conservative government's handling of the economy, while 49% `disapproved'.

The strong performance ratings for the Trudeau government are despite the fact that a majority (58%) of Canadian `agree' (18% strongly/41% somewhat) that `Canada is in an economic emergency like we were back in 2008', while a minority (42%) `disagrees' (9% strongly/32% somewhat) that the current situation is as bad as it was during the Great Recession. An Ipsos/Global News poll released last week showed that Canadians' economic confidence is at its lowest point in over two decades, even lower than it was during the Great Recession.

Canadians appear willing to give Trudeau and the Liberals some leeway at the start of their mandate: six in ten (63%) `agree' (18% strongly/45% somewhat) they `know the new Liberal government could make some mistakes' but they also know `their heart is in the right place' and are `prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt'. Four in ten (37%) Canadians aren't as patient, `disagreeing' (17% strongly/20% somewhat) that they're giving the Liberals the benefit of the doubt during this precarious economic situation.

While Canada overall isn't in a recession, the province of Alberta is reeling from low oil prices and is in a recession. A majority (56%) of Canadians `agree' (10% strongly/46% somewhat) that they're `confident that the Liberal government can steer Canada away from entering into another recession in 2016', while four in ten (44%) aren't so sure, `disagreeing' (17% strongly/26% somewhat).

Canadians are split on whether the volatile economic conditions give the Liberals the right to break the promises and commitments they made on the campaign trail. One half (53%) `agree' (16% strongly/37% somewhat) that `our economy has changed since the federal election, so I don't expect the Liberals to keep the promises they made back then', while the other half (47%) of Canadians `disagree' (14% strongly/33% somewhat), expecting them to stay true to their word regardless of the economic changes that have occurred over the past five months.

Canadians are skeptical that the government can have a positive impact on the economy at all. Half (47%) `agree' (19% strongly/28% somewhat) that `the more the Liberals involve themselves in Canada's economy, the bigger mess they will make'. The other half (53%) of Canadians `disagree' (17% strongly/37% somewhat), believing that government intervention could have a positive impact on the economy.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between March 14 and 16, 2016, on behalf of Global News. For this survey, a sample of 1,008 Canadians from Ipsos' online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/ - 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian adults been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Darrell Bricker
Global CEO
Ipsos Public Affairs
416.324.2001
[email protected]

About Ipsos in Canada

Ipsos is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos' marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry.

With offices in 86 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.

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