Politics

Politics Briefing: Canadians pessimistic about the health of democracy, poll finds

Published

2 years ago

November 14, 2022

Harry Miller

Hello,

Canadians responding to a new poll are scoring the health of democracy a 5.7 out of 10 – equivalent to a D+.

The finding is part of a survey conducted for The Globe and Mail by Nanos Research that asked respondents on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is very unhealthy and 10 is very healthy, how would you rate the health of democracy in Canada.

The mean, or average, response was 5.7, according to the survey. The result was highest in Quebec at 6.1 and lowest in the Prairies at 5.1.

“With a recession on the horizon, worry about paying for food and shelter Canadians are in an ugly mood. The score of 5.7 out of 10 suggests that if elected officials fail to focus on solutions that benefit the day-to-day lives of Canadians, our democracy in terms of health may veer toward a failing grade,” Nik Nanos, the chief data scientist at Nanos Research, and the official pollster for The Globe and Mail and CTV News, said Monday

“The low score is also a negative judgment on the style and tone of our elected officials which is negative, confrontational and polarizing. This type of politics sows discontent with our democracy.”

According to the research, released Monday, 27 per cent of Canadians who rated Canada’s democracy as healthy cited that things are fine and we have democracy and freedoms. Next up was the 19 per cent of respondents who cited having well-run elections and freedom to vote.

Respondents who said democracy is unhealthy cited the current government and Prime Minister as the reason (20 per cent), followed by 19 per cent who said freedoms and rights are being threatened and 12 per cent who cited the need for electoral reform.

The research is based on a telephone and online survey of 1,084 Canadians, 18 years old and older between Oct. 30 and Nov. 4. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3.0 percentage points 19 times out of 20.

This is the daily Politics Briefing newsletter, written by Ian Bailey. It is available exclusively to our digital subscribers. If you’re reading this on the web, subscribers can sign up for the Politics newsletter and more than 20 others on our newsletter signup page. Have any feedback? Let us know what you think.

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Politics

Saskatchewan NDP set to release full election platform

Published

1 day ago

October 11, 2024

Anne Joseph

Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck is expected to release her full election campaign platform today.

Beck is set to be in Saskatoon this morning.

Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, meanwhile, has a scheduled stop in the village of Kenaston.

The Saskatchewan Party has not yet released its full platform.

Crime was a focus on the campaign trail Thursday, with Moe promising more powers for police and Beck attacking the Saskatchewan Party’s record.

The provincial election is on Oct. 28.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.

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Politics

Bloc leader, MPs and farmers call for supply management bill to be passed

Published

2 days ago

October 10, 2024

Anne Joseph

OTTAWA – Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and MPs from several other parties were on Parliament Hill Thursday to call for the Senate to pass a Bloc bill on supply management.

The private member’s bill seeks to protect Canada’s supply management system during international trade negotiations.

The dairy, egg and poultry sectors are all supply managed, a system that regulates production levels, wholesale prices and trade.

Flanked by a large group of people representing supply-managed sectors, Blanchet commended the cross-party support at a time when he said federal institutions are at their most divided.

The Bloc has given the Liberals until Oct. 29 to pass two of its bills — the supply management bill and one that would boost old age security — or it will begin talks with other opposition parties to bring down the minority government.

The Liberals have already signalled they don’t plan to support the Bloc pension legislation, but Liberal ministers have spoken in support of supply management.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.

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Politics

Poilievre supports mandatory drug, psychiatric treatment for kids, prisoners

Published

2 days ago

October 10, 2024

Anne Joseph

OTTAWA – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he’s in favour of mandatory, involuntary drug and psychiatric treatment for kids and prisoners who are found to be incapable of making decisions for themselves.

He said earlier this summer he was open to the idea, but needed to study the issue more closely.

His new position on the issue comes after the parents of a 13-year-old girl from B.C. testified at a parliamentary committee about her mental health struggles before her overdose death in an encampment of homeless people in Abbotsford, B.C.

They said their daughter was discharged from care despite their repeated attempts to keep her in treatment.

Poilievre says he’s still researching how mandatory treatment would work in the case of adults.

Compulsory mental health and addictions care is being contemplated or expanded in several provinces as communities struggle to cope with a countrywide overdose crisis.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.

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