NATIONAL PULSE – Party leaders have never been less popular than now

For the first time since 1974, all three major federal party leaders score at least -12 in approval

By ANGUS REID INSTITUTE

May 9, 2024 – Many pundits and observers have speculated that politics has “never been this divisive”, with party leaders who seek to exploit differences rather than overcome them.

Even Canadians have voiced concern that there is no room for compromise or that their voices aren’t heard. This frustration and division appears to have created the perfect conditions for political dissatisfaction, and this has culminated in historically unpopular leadership at the federal level.

An analysis of 50 years of public opinion data shows it’s not just a feeling: data indicates Canadians have never been as critical of all three of the major federal party leaders at the same time.

There have certainly been low points, in 2011 Jack Layton, Michael Ignatieff and Stephen Harper were all in negative territory, but the intensity of dislike towards Layton was relatively slight. In the late 1980’s both John Turner and Brian Mulroney were heavily disapproved of, but Ed Broadbent soared in public opinion polls.

As of April 2024, there has never been a time when leaders of all three parties simultaneously turn Canadians off to such an extent. Conservative and Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre is most “popular” with a negative 12 net rating (favourability minus unfavourability) while NDP leader Jagmeet Singh scores his worst ever rating at negative 14. Prime Minister Trudeau’s approval has dropped to its lowest point at just 28 per cent, with a net approval of negative 38.

To understand the degree to which this period appears unprecedented, let’s take a look back along a 50-year trendline, decade by decade.