72% of Canadians say Canada still offers good quality of life: Poll
A new Angus Reid poll says seven in 10 Canadians, or 72%, say that Canada offers a good quality of life.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Article content
Those disagreeing rises to 42% among those who supported the Conservative Party in the April federal election while those who are in middle of their working lives, 35- to 54-year-old Canadians, are more likely than younger (22%) and older (19%) groups to also feel this way, with 28% saying the country doesn't offer a good quality of life.
The poll found that younger people are also least certain that Canada is a good place to start a family with a majority of 18- to-34-year-olds still choosing the optimistic view on this question (60%), but three in 10, or 27%, disagree.
Among retirement-age Canadians, for whom those families and lives have already been built, four in five, or 79%, say Canada is a great place to start a family.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
43 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Waving Canadian flag on two-way street of trade
Opinion I gave up my Friday night pizza dates with Tom Gore around the same time Donald Trump started his trade war with Canada. It was a forced breakup, but I didn't mind. Tom was my favourite wine until it was pulled from liquor store shelves as part of the federal and provincial governments' response to the imposition of tariffs on U.S. imports from Canada. There's been so much background noise in the aftermath that it's been hard to keep track. All I know is Tom and all his California cohorts are still in exile, and the alternatives I've found are such that I don't miss them. Apparently, I'm not alone. Sales of U.S. wine to Canada are, by some accounts, down 94 per cent, and sales of Canadian alcoholic beverages are up, probably the most noticeable effect of our collective disenchantment with our largest trading partner. An Angus Reid poll released in the early days of this muddled trading mess showed four out of five Canadians were buying more Canadian products in the face of the Trump's tariff tactics. Three out of five said they were actively boycotting products from the U.S. However, these opinions were collected in February, around the same time it was still cool to boo the American anthem at hockey games. Thankfully, we've moved on from that. It's likely Canada's aversion to anything American will also start to dissipate now that Trump's attention has shifted from making Canada the 51st state to other matters. However, an Ipsos poll released this month shows the aversion to buying U.S.-made goods has gone global. Fewer than half of respondents from 29 countries say they are likely to buy something manufactured in the U.S. According to that poll, 63 per cent of Canadians say they are unlikely to buy anything American. Food and beverages top the list of consumer goods where shoppers can vote with their dollars, thumbing their nose at Trump every time they stock up. Considering all this, it comes as no surprise to anyone — except perhaps the U.S. administration — that the U.S. agricultural trade deficit is growing instead of shrinking as was promised when it turned to taxing imports, kicking out immigrant workers critical to its own food supply and detaining tourists to 'make America great again.' Release of the USDA quarterly trade report earlier this month was reportedly delayed and stripped of its usual analysis after the original draft's authors cited tariffs and the 'buy Canadian' movement as reasons for reduced demand for U.S. agricultural goods. The redacted report forecasts a US$49.5 billion trade deficit for fiscal year 2025, an increase of US$500 million. It's living proof it's never a good idea to trash-talk your best customers. However, that's something we Canadians need to keep in mind as we explore how to navigate the tangled trade environment we face for the foreseeable future. It's always a good idea to shop local when you can. Even if it costs a little more, supporting local suppliers and businesses circulates our hard-earned dollars in our communities, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth. Our farmers no doubt appreciate the moral and financial support. Yet one of Canada's defining strengths as a nation is its status as a global supplier of food commodities. More than 50 per cent of what farmers here grow is exported either directly or indirectly. The U.S. is still our largest trading partner. More than half of Canada's agri-food imports originate in the U.S., while 60 per cent of Canada's agri-food exports are U.S.-bound. The food industries in both countries count on that cross-border trade. For that reason, the export-orientated sectors have steadfastly maintained support for rules-based trade and opposition to policy that unduly protects access to domestic markets. Trade must be a two-way street. As Canada Day approaches, waving the flag and putting Canadian foods on the table is a meaningful expression of our national pride. Our collective individual actions do make a difference. But does supporting local equate with boycotting someone else? It's a choice we all need to make. Laura Rance is executive editor, production content lead for Glacier FarmMedia. She can be reached at lrance@ Laura RanceColumnist Laura Rance is editorial director at Farm Business Communications. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Leadership needed in Canadian aviation
Opinion The recent recommendations from the Competition Bureau to open Canada's skies to foreign airlines have sparked a flurry of commentary — particularly about the risks. While critics of allowing foreign carriers to operate domestic routes raise valid concerns, we must also consider the broader context of the bureau's findings. The individual contributions of many in this sector are significant. But the report's conclusions demand serious public discussion. While we might not agree with every recommendation, the focus on improving competition — and especially access for northern and remote communities — is critical. These are long-standing challenges that are only getting worse. Air travel in Canada is too expensive, too limited in reach and too often unreliable for smaller communities. These aren't new problems, but they've become more urgent. As the economy evolves and regional populations grow, the cost of inaction is rising — for workers, businesses and communities alike. That's why we can't afford to delay. Canada needs a national policy to guide the future of aviation. This isn't just a transportation issue; it's about economic development, national resilience and our ability to connect Canadians across geography and circumstance. Aviation is essential infrastructure. How we shape its future must become a national priority. Importantly, in shaping that future, the primary beneficiary of any aviation policy must be the end user: the Canadian traveller and shipper. People flying from Winnipeg to Whitehorse or Ottawa don't ask the nationality of the money that funds the airline. They care whether the service is reliable, affordable and compliant with Canadian regulations. Capital origin is secondary to performance and public accountability. Concerns about foreign carriers cherry-picking profitable routes while leaving less-profitable ones to local operators are understandable — but those arguments hold weight only if the critics themselves are actively serving the underserved. If domestic carriers are not providing consistent, affordable service to these areas, opposing new entrants on the basis of 'cherry-picking' risks defending a status quo that leaves many Canadians behind. Instead, the focus should be on designing a regulatory framework that ensures all operators — foreign or domestic — have clear obligations to support and invest in the full range of services Canadians need. Some frame increased competition as a threat to Canadian sovereignty; when done right, however, competition strengthens our domestic aviation sector. It forces innovation, improves service and drives affordability. A stagnant market serves no one, least of all rural or remote Canadians who rely on air travel for access to health care, opportunity and family. This is not a call for blind deregulation. It is a request for strategic, well-regulated reform that reflects the realities of a modern economy and a diverse population. That reform must also address the structural inefficiencies already baked into the system: federal airport 'rents,' underinvestment in regional infrastructure and outdated air-navigation systems. These are the true obstacles to affordability, and they are driven by the absence of a coherent national aviation strategy. If we want a resilient, competitive Canadian aviation industry, we need leadership. That means government bringing together the private sector, labour, Indigenous communities and consumers for a meaningful dialogue about what's working, what's broken and what a sustainable path forward looks like. We are a nation built on connection — geographic, cultural and economic. Our aviation system must reflect that reality. Opening the door to new players and new ideas should not be seen as giving something away. It's a strategic opportunity to ensure Canadian air travel is strong, inclusive and future-ready. Let's not wait for another carrier to collapse or another community to lose service before we act. The time for a national conversation about the future of our skies is now. Barry Rempel is a Canadian aviation industry leader with more than three decades of experience in airport and airline strategy. He is the former president and CEO of the Winnipeg Airports Authority.
Canada News.Net
4 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Canadian govt orders Chinese firm Hikvision to cease operations over national security concerns
Ottawa [Canada], June 28 (ANI): The Canadian government has ordered Chinese video surveillance equipment maker Hikvision to cease all operations in the country and close its Canadian business over national security concerns, Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Melanie Joly, announced on Friday (local time). Melanie Joly noted that the government has determined that Hikvision Canada Inc.'s continued operations in Canada would be detrimental to Canada's national security. In a statement, Joly stated, 'Following a National Security Review under the Investment Canada Act, the Government of Canada has ordered Hikvision Canada Inc. to cease all operations in Canada and close its Canadian business.' 'The government has determined that Hikvision Canada Inc.'s continued operations in Canada would be injurious to Canada's national security. This determination is the result of a multi-step review that assessed information and evidence provided by Canada's security and intelligence community,' she added. Joly stated, 'The scope of this National Security Review under the Investment Canada Act does not extend to Hikvision's affiliate operations outside of Canada.' Melanie Joly encouraged all Canadians to take note of this decision and make their own decisions accordingly. Furthermore, the Canadian government has banned the purchase or use of Hikvision products in government departments, agencies, and crown corporations.
