Latest news with #Léger
Time Out
3 days ago
- General
- Time Out
Ontario city beats Montreal as the happiest city in Canada in 2025
Are you living in one of Canada's happiest cities? First, Toronto overtook Montreal on the list of the world's top cities. Now, a survey by Léger conducted among almost 40,000 Canadians has named another Ontario city the happiest in Canada. Surveying respondents aged 18 and over between March 31 to April 13, 2025, Mississauga and Montreal were the only two cities to surpass the national average happiness, with the Ontario city coming out on top. Canadians rated their happiness an average of 68.7 out of 100. While 49% say their happiness has remained stable, 28% report a deterioration and 23% report an improvement in the past year. What is Canada's happiest city? Here's where Canada's top 10 largest cities rank when it comes to happiness: 1. Mississauga, Ont. — 70.3 2. Montreal, Que. — 69.4 3. Hamilton, Ont. — 67.5 4. Calgary, Alta. — 67.4 5. Brampton, Ont. — 66.7 6. Ottawa, Ont. — 66.4 7. Edmonton, Alta. — 66.3 8. Vancouver, B.C. — 66.3 9. Winnipeg, Man. — 65.9 10. Toronto, Ont. — 65.8 When it came to the happiest province, Quebec led in happiness with an average of 72.4, which is well above the national average happiness index (68.7). In contrast, Prince Edward Island (66.5) and Manitoba (66.7) ranked among the lowest. Young Canadian adults reported average happiness scores of 65.8 for those aged 18 to 24 and 66.3 for those aged 25 to 34 (out of 100)—both below the national average of 68.7. However respondents aged 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 were more likely to report a decline or stagnation in happiness, with 31% and 32% respectively saying their well-being has worsened. The report also showed that women are slightly happier than men (69.4 vs. 68.0).
Montreal Gazette
5 days ago
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Libman: Quebec remains in Carney's corner, but danger lies ahead
It's been over two months since Mark Carney was elected as our Captain Canada. Most voters felt he was best suited to navigate us through the turbulent waters churned by one very unpredictable U.S. president, with difficult trade negotiations ahead and recurring threats about our sovereignty. Many today would likely agree that he has been earning the confidence granted to him by voters. Carney seems to possess the right temperament and has shown, at least so far, that he can skilfully manoeuvre, plus choose the right words, in the difficult balancing act of dealing with Donald Trump's volatility. Carney's popularity has particularly solidified in Quebec. Despite him being considered an outsider, raised in Edmonton, his Liberals surprisingly dominated this province in the election, with their best result in 45 years. A June 28 Léger poll shows confidence in him has grown, with 58 per cent of Quebecers satisfied with his government. Surprisingly, that number hits 60 per cent among voters of the separatist Parti Québécois and Bloc Québécois. Carney has also bolstered his inner circle with prominent Quebec heavyweights, including Michael Sabia — one of Quebec's most respected business leaders — as incoming clerk of the Privy Council, the head of public service. Marc-André Blanchard, a Montreal lawyer and former ambassador to the United Nations, is his new chief of staff. He named François-Philippe Champagne as finance minister, Mélanie Joly as industry minister, and former MP and justice minister David Lametti as his principal secretary. Premier François Legault, who has been somewhat of a cheerleader for Carney, said after the election that ' Mr. Carney owes one to Quebecers. ' He's delivered so far. But rocky waters lie ahead. While Carney and his inner circle have economic heft and credibility to make the case to Quebecers regarding issues including trade, supply management and pipelines, how will they manage the perilous issues of identity and language? With cases on secularism law Bill 21 and language law Bill 96 winding their way toward the Supreme Court, nationalist opinion leaders who have been rueing Carney's popularity in Quebec are waiting to pounce. Carney has said if these Quebec laws were tested before the Supreme Court, his government would defend the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and intervene. Nationalist Quebecers jumped, as did ministers from the Coalition Avenir Québec government. Carney has been evasive since, suggesting it's the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause — used to shield these laws from most of the charter — that his government would contest, not necessarily the substance of the laws themselves, which many believe clearly infringe on minority and linguistic rights. When push comes to shove, what will Carney do? His Quebec inner circle will undoubtedly want him to avoid riling up the nationalist hornets' nest at all costs. Will he thus completely reverse course and decide not to intervene in these cases, throwing minorities overboard? Another scenario, as he already hinted, would be to formulate opposition to the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause in general — perhaps establishing a more rigorous framework while referring to its uses in Ontario and elsewhere, steering clear of the substance of the Quebec laws. Or maybe he could show some genuine leadership and prowess. Is it too much to expect for our prime minister — while affirming that Quebec values such as secularism and protecting French are important — to argue that the laws in question go too far? Most Quebecers respect Carney, seem willing to listen to him and are receptive to strong leadership and reason. If he is capable enough to navigate his way around the tempestuousness of Donald Trump, steering through the upcoming nationalist storm over his government's intervention in these court challenges should be relatively easy — and an important leadership test of Captain Canada. Robert Libman is an architect and planning consultant who has served as Equality Party leader and MNA, mayor of Côte-St-Luc and a member of the Montreal executive committee. He was a Conservative candidate in the 2015 federal election.
Montreal Gazette
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Opinion: Valérie Plante needs to come out of hiding
Op Eds It's the summer of 1997. I'm sitting in the back seat of my parents' car as we head off on our next family vacation. To keep me occupied, my mother hands me one of my Where's Waldo? books. I could spend hours searching for Waldo — hidden behind a tree, a beach house or an ice cream parlour. Today, as a political observer and with summer vacations in full swing, I'm no longer looking for Waldo. I'm looking for Valérie Plante. Because like many Montrealers, I'm seriously wondering: Where is our mayor? A few weeks ago, La Presse revealed that the city's top elected official has missed half of the executive committee's meetings since announcing her decision to step down last fall. That's as if the province's premier would neglect to attend half of their cabinet's meetings — serious questions would soon be raised about their leadership and ability to govern. In recent months, Plante has also significantly reduced her media presence and public appearances, despite the city grappling with major events like the STM strike and dangerously poor air quality due to high smog levels. Understandably, many are now questioning her motivation and commitment to the job. Usually, as their time in office winds down, politicians step up their public presence — to defend their legacy, to leave a lasting impression, to be remembered positively in the history books. But after nearly eight years in power, what legacy does Plante really have to defend? Bike paths? Sure. If you're among the few who believe spending nearly $100 million to turn Camillien-Houde Way into a giant bike path on Mount Royal — despite clear public opposition — is a productive and visionary move, when city hall is facing other, much more pressing issues, then maybe Plante's tenure can appear to have been a tremendous success. Beyond that — and perhaps a few newly landscaped sidewalk corners — what else does she have to be proud of? Frankly, not much. The city's finances are in poor shape, with steep property tax hikes under Projet Montréal. Our crumbling infrastructure continues to decay. Construction zones and orange cones remain omnipresent. Crime and homelessness are on the rise, with a Léger poll last summer revealing that two-thirds of Montrealers felt their city was less safe than it had been five years before. Small businesses are struggling, with many commercial areas now considered unsafe or uninviting. Meanwhile, the housing crisis has worsened under the Plante administration's heavy-handed bureaucracy and restrictive bylaws, which have made Montreal's real estate market so unappealing that some developers now prefer to build in the suburbs — even though the city itself is where new housing is most urgently needed. In short, almost everything Plante promised to fix when first elected in 2017 has only grown worse. So, is there still a captain at the helm? While her predecessor Denis Coderre was dubbed 'the omni-mayor' for insisting on being everywhere all the time, Plante could be remembered — at least for the final year of her tenure — as the 'ghost mayor.' Maybe her party has asked her to stay out of the spotlight this summer so as not to overshadow her successor as Projet Montréal leader, Luc Rabouin, as he ramps up his campaign ahead of this fall's municipal elections. Or maybe she's just no longer interested in the job now that her departure is official. Either way, the mayor should remember that she still holds the office until someone else is sworn in this November — and that the important responsibilities with which she has been entrusted demand unwavering dedication at all times. Because if she continues to hide like Waldo, Montrealers might remember Valérie Plante as the captain who abandoned ship before it reached its final destination. It may be summertime, but it's not vacation time yet for the mayor. Raphaël Melançon is a public affairs consultant and political analyst. He previously worked as a journalist and political adviser at all three levels of government.
Business Upturn
07-07-2025
- Business Upturn
Allstate survey: Nearly one third of active social media users may potentially risk a home break-in by posting online before or during a vacation trip
MARKHAM, Ontario, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Almost one third (32 per cent) of Canadian respondents to a survey that say they are active on social media post about their plans before or while traveling, a figure that rises to 51 per cent among those aged 18 to 34. Posting that beach vacation selfie while away could be putting the safety of their property at risk for theft because it also shares that their home is empty. The survey was conducted by Léger on behalf of Allstate Insurance Company of Canada ('Allstate') to explore how Canadians choose to share details about their vacation on social media before and during travel. Respondents to the survey reveal that 68 per cent of Canadian social media users plan to leave home for at least a few days this summer, with the highest rate among Gen Z and Millennials at 74 per cent and the lowest among those aged 55 and older. While 35 per cent of those staying within their province say they plan to post about their trip on social media, this proportion rises to 45 per cent among those planning to leave their province, and peaks at 51 per cent among travellers with international plans. Specifically, 9 per cent post before their trip to share their plans and 28 per cent post during the trip to show they are travelling. Young adults aged 18–34 are the most likely to publish content on social media during their vacation (39 per cent). Parents are more inclined to share (37 per cent) compared to those without children (30 per cent). In contrast, a majority (62 per cent) say their main concern is protecting their home from theft while they're away. This priority is even stronger among people aged 55 and over — 69 per cent choose not to post before or during their vacation. However, 15 per cent of respondents say sharing on social media is more of a priority than keeping their home safe from a break-in. Allstate has launched a public education campaign about the risks of sharing vacation travel plans online and how Canadians can better protect their homes. Allstate Claims Data Shows August is a Target Month for Home Theft Analysis of Allstate's in-house claims data over the last ten years reveals that property theft rises slightly over the summer, with August reaching a peak. Overall, the months of July through November are the busiest time for theft, making summer a critical period for home safety. As well, the claims data reveals Fridays rank highest for incidents, followed by Thursday, regardless of time of year. 'While technology like smart cameras and alarm systems may offer peace of mind, oversharing on social media can put travellers' homes and valuables at risk. I encourage Canadians to keep this in mind before sharing their travel plans and adventures online,' says Odel Laing, Agency Manager at Allstate Canada. 'This doesn't mean keeping all the excitement to yourself, but rather share the photos of your vacation when you return.' Allstate Encourages to Travel Smart this Summer Odel offers some advice that may help Canadians protect their homes from theft if they are planning on travelling this summer. As a general rule, year-round, use your phone's privacy settings to remove geolocation data from digital pictures and avoid sharing images of your street address or home number. Before a trip, avoid posting countdowns. If the itch to share online is too great, create a smaller trusted chat group to keep those closest to you informed of your plans. Setting social media accounts to 'private' rather than public allows more control over who sees your content. Even then, keep dates and other travel plans vague. Delay sharing details about your vacation adventure online until your return. Discuss this approach with all household members, so they take the same precautions. Review your home insurance policy with your insurance professional to ensure you have the right coverage for your needs. For more travel-related online safety advice, go to the GOOD HANDS® blog at . Léger Poll Methodology Allstate commissioned Léger to conduct a study among Canadians active on social media to better understand their online behaviour before, during and after their vacations and assess if they are in line with their level of concern towards home safety. In order to reach survey objectives, an online survey was conducted with 1,603 Canadians, aged 18 and over, who could express themselves in English or French, from April 17 to 20, 2025. It should be noted that due to the non-probabilistic nature of the sample (associated with any web survey), the calculation of the margin of error does not apply. For comparative purposes, a probabilistic sample of 1,603 respondents via web panel (including 1,352 respondents active on social media) would have a global margin of error of ± 2.45% 19 times out of 20. The margin of error would, however, increase for subgroups. About Allstate Insurance Company of Canada Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is a leading home and auto insurer focused on providing its customers prevention and protection products and services for every stage of life. Serving Canadians since 1953, Allstate strives to reassure both customers and employees with its 'You're in Good Hands®' promise. Allstate is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates through partnerships with charitable organizations, employee giving and volunteerism. To learn more, visit . For safety tips and advice, visit For more information, please contact:Stephanie MoreAgnostic on behalf of Allstate Insurance Company of Canada416-912-5341 [email protected]
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Allstate survey: Nearly one third of active social media users may potentially risk a home break-in by posting online before or during a vacation trip
As summer holidays approach, Allstate's public education campaign encourages Canadians to 'Travel Smart' by delaying their trip photos to social media MARKHAM, Ontario, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almost one third (32 per cent) of Canadian respondents to a survey that say they are active on social media post about their plans before or while traveling, a figure that rises to 51 per cent among those aged 18 to 34. Posting that beach vacation selfie while away could be putting the safety of their property at risk for theft because it also shares that their home is empty. The survey was conducted by Léger on behalf of Allstate Insurance Company of Canada ('Allstate') to explore how Canadians choose to share details about their vacation on social media before and during travel. Respondents to the survey reveal that 68 per cent of Canadian social media users plan to leave home for at least a few days this summer, with the highest rate among Gen Z and Millennials at 74 per cent and the lowest among those aged 55 and older. While 35 per cent of those staying within their province say they plan to post about their trip on social media, this proportion rises to 45 per cent among those planning to leave their province, and peaks at 51 per cent among travellers with international plans. Specifically, 9 per cent post before their trip to share their plans and 28 per cent post during the trip to show they are travelling. Young adults aged 18–34 are the most likely to publish content on social media during their vacation (39 per cent). Parents are more inclined to share (37 per cent) compared to those without children (30 per cent). In contrast, a majority (62 per cent) say their main concern is protecting their home from theft while they're away. This priority is even stronger among people aged 55 and over — 69 per cent choose not to post before or during their vacation. However, 15 per cent of respondents say sharing on social media is more of a priority than keeping their home safe from a break-in. Allstate has launched a public education campaign about the risks of sharing vacation travel plans online and how Canadians can better protect their homes. Allstate Claims Data Shows August is a Target Month for Home TheftAnalysis of Allstate's in-house claims data over the last ten years reveals that property theft rises slightly over the summer, with August reaching a peak. Overall, the months of July through November are the busiest time for theft, making summer a critical period for home safety. As well, the claims data reveals Fridays rank highest for incidents, followed by Thursday, regardless of time of year. 'While technology like smart cameras and alarm systems may offer peace of mind, oversharing on social media can put travellers' homes and valuables at risk. I encourage Canadians to keep this in mind before sharing their travel plans and adventures online,' says Odel Laing, Agency Manager at Allstate Canada. 'This doesn't mean keeping all the excitement to yourself, but rather share the photos of your vacation when you return.' Allstate Encourages to Travel Smart this Summer Odel offers some advice that may help Canadians protect their homes from theft if they are planning on travelling this summer. As a general rule, year-round, use your phone's privacy settings to remove geolocation data from digital pictures and avoid sharing images of your street address or home number. Before a trip, avoid posting countdowns. If the itch to share online is too great, create a smaller trusted chat group to keep those closest to you informed of your plans. Setting social media accounts to 'private' rather than public allows more control over who sees your content. Even then, keep dates and other travel plans vague. Delay sharing details about your vacation adventure online until your return. Discuss this approach with all household members, so they take the same precautions. Review your home insurance policy with your insurance professional to ensure you have the right coverage for your needs. For more travel-related online safety advice, go to the GOOD HANDS® blog at Léger Poll MethodologyAllstate commissioned Léger to conduct a study among Canadians active on social media to better understand their online behaviour before, during and after their vacations and assess if they are in line with their level of concern towards home safety. In order to reach survey objectives, an online survey was conducted with 1,603 Canadians, aged 18 and over, who could express themselves in English or French, from April 17 to 20, 2025. It should be noted that due to the non-probabilistic nature of the sample (associated with any web survey), the calculation of the margin of error does not apply. For comparative purposes, a probabilistic sample of 1,603 respondents via web panel (including 1,352 respondents active on social media) would have a global margin of error of ± 2.45% 19 times out of 20. The margin of error would, however, increase for subgroups. About Allstate Insurance Company of CanadaAllstate Insurance Company of Canada is a leading home and auto insurer focused on providing its customers prevention and protection products and services for every stage of life. Serving Canadians since 1953, Allstate strives to reassure both customers and employees with its "You're in Good Hands®" promise. Allstate is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates through partnerships with charitable organizations, employee giving and volunteerism. To learn more, visit For safety tips and advice, visit For more information, please contact:Stephanie MoreAgnostic on behalf of Allstate Insurance Company of Canada416-912-5341 smore@ Maude GauthierCapital-Image on behalf of Allstate Insurance Company of Canada514-915-9469mgauthier@ Cody GillenPublic Relations Specialist905-475-4536cgillen@
