OTTAWA — A recent poll indicates that many Canadians believe Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has not fulfilled its campaign promises. Despite this sentiment, Carney's approval ratings have seen a slight increase. The Postmedia-Leger poll reveals that 72% of respondents feel disappointed with the government's progress on the cost-of-living crisis. Additionally, 64% expressed frustration with Carney's commitment to reduce government spending amid a growing deficit.

The poll results come shortly after Carney's highly anticipated budget, which was expected to provide relief to Canadians facing economic challenges. The budget, described as a "generational investment" in the country's future, has faced criticism from opposition parties. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre stated, "On behalf of all the Canadians who can no longer afford to eat, heat or house themselves because of Liberal inflation, we, Conservatives, cannot support this costly Liberal budget."

Andrew Enns, executive vice-president at Leger, noted that the poll results could be frustrating for the Conservative Party. He explained, "For Conservatives, their biggest issues are affordability, and that’s where the current government is performing the poorest according to the Canadian population. Yet it’s not translating into increased support for the Conservatives, who have continued to make cost-of-living a very important part of their messaging."

If an election were held today, the Liberals would still lead with 43% of the vote, while the Conservatives would trail at 38%. The poll also found that 46% of Canadians are satisfied with the Liberal government, a four-point increase from the previous month. Carney's approval rating has risen to 52%, up five points since last month. Enns remarked, "People still want Carney to succeed. They elected his government, and they’re still giving him the benefit of the doubt."

However, sentiments appear to be shifting in traditionally conservative regions like Alberta and Saskatchewan. Enns noted that while there was initial goodwill for Carney in these provinces, opinions are beginning to harden. The poll indicated that respondents from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta rated Carney's performance the lowest.

Frustration with Carney's handling of trade relations with the United States was expressed by 64% of respondents. Additionally, 71% of those surveyed were disappointed with the government's efforts to make housing more affordable, particularly in British Columbia, where housing costs are notoriously high. Furthermore, 52% of Canadians expressed dissatisfaction with Carney's progress in strengthening the military.

Only 10% of respondents reported being pleased with how Carney's government has delivered on its campaign promises. Enns stated, "The government may think they’ve made a lot of progress around the cabinet table, but it’s not translating into the public. The Liberals can’t look at this and say ‘we’re on the right path,’ so they’ve definitely got some heavy lifting to do."

The online survey, which included 1,585 Canadians, was conducted from October 31 to November 2, 2025. While online polls are not considered representative samples and do not carry a margin of error, the survey document provides an estimated margin of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.