Carney begins term with 57 per cent approval, comparable, but slightly lower than that of predecessors
June 5, 2025 – The optimism coming out of meetings between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada’s provincial premiers was quickly dampened by United States President Donald Trump, who later in the week announced a doubling of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. This, as the nation’s leaders continue with efforts to “Trump-proof” Canada’s economy.
In some of the first data assessing the just-over-a-month-old post-election Carney government, polling from the Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians feeling confident about some priorities set forth by the government, and less bullish on others.
As Carney takes his first mandate, most Canadians offer him positive appraisal for his early actions. More than half (57%) approve of him thus far, while 29 per cent disapprove. Many – approximately one-in-seven (15%) are yet unsure.
Canadians’ positivity extends to several of the new government’s top priorities. Three-in-five say that they are confident the Liberals and Carney will make significant progress when it comes to removing inter-provincial trade barriers, something that the meetings in Saskatoon focused on this week. Strengthening relationships with other like-minded nations is also a source of confidence. The relationship with the United States, however, one that Carney claimed has entered a new phase, is cause for less optimism. Twice as many say they are not confident that progress can be made on this file, compared to those who feel positively.
Two other key priorities for Carney and the Liberals generate the most skepticism. Seven-in-10 (69%) are not confident that progress on reducing government spending on operations will come to fruition. Further, three-quarters (74%) are pessimistic that the government will make significant strides in reducing the cost of housing. This includes a near identical number among homeowners (75%) and renters (73%).
More Key Findings:
- Carney’s first approval rating falls six points behind that of his predecessor, Justin Trudeau (63%) and four-points below Stephen Harper’s (61%).
- Canadians are divided evenly on the question of whether they’re confident the new government will make significant progress in strengthening Canada’s Armed Forces. This, as Carney’s government has committed to greatly increasing defense spending.
- More than half (54%) are not confident that the Liberal government will reduce immigration rates to “sustainable” levels.
About ARI
The Angus Reid Institute (ARI) was founded in October 2014 by pollster and sociologist, Dr. Angus Reid. ARI is a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan public opinion research foundation established to advance education by commissioning, conducting and disseminating to the public accessible and impartial statistical data, research and policy analysis on economics, political science, philanthropy, public administration, domestic and international affairs and other socio-economic issues of importance to Canada and its world.
INDEX
Part One: Leadership
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Positivity for Carney after first month
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Historical comparisons
Part Two: Confidence in delivering on priorities
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Renters not confident houses will become more affordable
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Majorities – except in Alberta – believe progress coming on inter-provincial trade
Part Three: Top issues
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Trump’s tariffs a fading priority
Part One: Leadership
Positivity for Carney after first month
It has been more than a month since Prime Minister Mark Carney secured a new minority mandate for the Liberals and Canadians are more positive than not about what they’ve seen so far. Approaching three-in-five (57%) say they approve of Carney’s performance, double the number who disapprove (29%).
During the election, there was more negativity directed Carney’s way. Two-in-five (41%) said they had an unfavourable view of the Liberal leader with just days to go until the election. Now, there is less negativity and more uncertainty as Canadians appear to be giving the new government time to implement its mandate before offering an assessment:
Historical comparisons
Initial praise for a new prime minister is common. Carney, in fact, trails the early approval ratings of former Prime Ministers Brian Mulroney (61%), Jean Chrétien (62%), Stephen Harper (61%) and Justin Trudeau (63%).
Canadians’ first impression of Carney is more positive than former Prime Ministers Paul Martin (48% satisfied) and Pierre Elliott Trudeau (39%), but Canadians were much more likely to reserve judgement of Martin (35% don’t know) and the senior Trudeau (47%).
Part Two: Confidence in delivering on priorities
One of the new Liberal government’s first acts was inviting King Charles to deliver the throne speech, which set the priorities of the new government.
Those priorities include unifying Canada’s economy by removing inter-provincial trade barriers, making housing more affordable, diversifying trade by building relationships with countries that share Canada’s values outside of the U.S., reinvesting in the armed forces, rebalancing the immigration system, reducing government spending, and increasing private investment in Canada.
Canadians were asked to assess how confident they were that the new government would make progress on its stated priorities. Majorities believe the Carney Liberals can make progress on inter-provincial trade barriers (61%) and building relationships with “like-minded” nations (64%).
Canadians are split between confident and not when it comes to whether they believe the new government can strengthen the armed forces (45% confident, 47% not) or increase private investment (43% confident, 44% not).
There is much more doubt that the new Liberal government will reduce spending on operations, balance the immigration system, and make housing more affordable:
Those who voted Liberal in the recent federal election are most confident progress will be made on the government’s stated priorities, but even among those partisans there are doubts the federal government will be able to reduce spending and make housing more affordable. Recent Conservative voters express little confidence that the Liberal government will make progress, and voice the strongest concerns over the government balancing immigration, reducing spending, and taking strides on affordable housing:
Renters not confident houses will become more affordable
The segment of the population perhaps most concerned with housing affordability – those renting as they sit on the outside of the market currently – also have their doubts that progress will be made by the Liberals on the country’s housing affordability crisis. Three-quarters (73%) of renters say they are skeptical that the new government will take steps to solve the issue:
Majorities – except in Alberta – believe progress coming on inter-provincial trade
Expectations are high that the new Carney government will make progress on breaking down inter-provincial trade barriers. The new prime minister pledged during the campaign that he would eliminate them with legislation by Canada Day this year. Already, Carney appears to have established a positive rapport with premiers as Ontario’s Doug Ford called the recent first ministers’ meeting in Saskatoon the best since the Liberals first took office in 2015.
In all provinces except one – Alberta – a majority say they have confidence the Liberals can make progress to remove inter-provincial trade barriers. Albertans are split between confidence and doubt:
Part Three: Top issues
Trump’s tariffs a fading priority
When historians write the tale of the 2025 federal election, one of the first lines will be devoted to American President Donald Trump, who upended the Conservative Party’s anticipated coronation, and appeared to rally Canadians around newly installed PM Carney. As the campaign went on, the tariff issue faded in importance, a trend that has continued post-election. One-in-five Canadians now say this is a top issue facing Canada, half as many as said this in mid-March. Perhaps, “TACO” Trump has Canadians less concerned about the consequences of ongoing tariff volleys. In lieu of trade concerns, the cost of living and health care have been again firmly established as the top two Canadian priorities:
There are vast divergences across party supporters in terms of top priorities. As wildfires rage in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, climate change looms at a top concern for one-quarter of Liberals and one-in-three New Democrats, but just two per cent of Conservatives. Crime and public safety, as well as the deficit, are high level concerns for those who supported the CPC in April, and less so for others:
Survey Methodology:
The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from June 2-3, 2025, among a randomized sample of 2,072 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to region, gender, age, household income, and education, based on the Canadian census. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 1.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. The survey was self-commissioned and paid for by ARI.
For detailed results by age, gender, region, education, and other demographics, click here.
For PDF of full release, click here.
For questionnaire, click here.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Shachi Kurl, President: 604.908.1693 shachi.kurl@angusreid.org @shachikurl
Dave Korzinski, Research Director: 250.899.0821 dave.korzinski@angusreid.org
Jon Roe, Research Associate: 825.437.1147 jon.roe@angusreid.org
