A new national poll indicates the federal Liberal government's recent budget is receiving a lukewarm reception from Canadians, with a persistent affordability crisis overshadowing its proposals.
Poll Reveals Public Sentiment
The Leger survey, conducted and released in November 2025, found that the budget presented by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne garnered only middling approval ratings. The data suggests that the government's fiscal plan has so far failed to resonate strongly with a electorate primarily concerned with the rising cost of living.
The budget was tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, but the subsequent polling reveals a significant challenge for the governing party.
The Core Issue: The Affordability Gap
The central finding of the poll is that the affordability gap remains the most pressing issue for many respondents. Despite new measures announced in the fiscal plan, a substantial number of Canadians feel the budget does not adequately address the financial pressures they face in their daily lives.
This perception presents a significant political hurdle for the Liberals as they attempt to build public confidence in their economic stewardship.
Political Implications and Next Steps
The middling reviews place the government in a delicate position. With the budget serving as a central piece of its political agenda, its failure to capture strong public enthusiasm could impact the Liberals' standing in future electoral tests.
The poll results will likely force a recalibration of the government's communication strategy as it seeks to highlight the budget's benefits and counter the prevailing narrative on affordability.
As the political debate continues in Ottawa, this Leger poll serves as a clear barometer of public opinion, indicating that the government's economic message has not yet fully connected with the financial anxieties of Canadian households.
