Trust in institutions — Canada · Synthesis

Relatively high institutional trust. Canada has long displayed institutional trust rather higher than that of several major democracies (OECD), associated with political stability and institutions with a reputation for solidity.

A recent erosion. Trust has eroded under the effect of the cost-of-living and housing crisis (cf. categories Prices and Housing), which feeds a sense of downward mobility, particularly among young people — a new driver of distrust.

Rising polarisation. Political polarisation, traditionally more moderate than in the United States, has increased (protest movements, distrust of institutions and the media), even if it remains below American levels.

Trust in local and state institutions. As elsewhere, trust in certain institutions (justice, police, to a lesser extent) remains higher than in political actors, with nuances across groups and regions.

Indigenous and regional issues. Trust varies strongly by group: Indigenous peoples, marked by colonial history (cf. categories Justice and Social cohesion), and certain regions (the West) express specific forms of distrust.

Addressing the cost of living and housing. Restoring trust depends largely on the capacity to respond to the affordability crisis (housing, cost of living), the main driver of recent distrust.

Containing polarisation. Preserving a political culture more consensual than in the United States, in the face of rising polarisation, is a democratic challenge.

Indigenous reconciliation. Restoring trust among Indigenous peoples, through reconciliation and reducing gaps, is a long-term challenge.

Information and disinformation. As elsewhere, preserving a reliable information environment is a growing democratic challenge.

The open questions. Three challenges will shape the period: (1) responding to the cost-of-living and housing crisis; (2) containing polarisation; (3) advancing on Indigenous reconciliation.

Placed in its environment, Canada retains rather high institutional trust for a major democracy, but eroding — level comparisons remaining fragile.

Comparability warning. Trust levels depend heavily on question wording, scale, and survey period. The OECD partially harmonises, but gaps may reflect methodological differences. Trends over time compare better than levels.

Two cautious takeaways. (1) Rather high trust. Canadians' trust in their government is generally higher than that of the French, British and Americans, closer to the upper end of the major-democracy spectrum.

(2) Polarisation more contained than in the United States. Despite a recent rise, Canadian polarisation remains below American polarisation — a contrast with the southern neighbour.