A study released Tuesday suggests young Canadians are more likely to feel hopeless about the future of democracy in Canada than older residents.
The Statistics Canada study found about a quarter of respondents aged 25 to 44 were “not at all hopeful” when asked to think about the future and about how democracy works in Canada.
In comparison, those 65 and older were more likely to feel very hopeful (about 18 per cent) than not at all (about 10 per cent) about democracy’s functions.
The vast majority of those 15 and older were a little or somewhat hopeful about democracy in the country.
The study used data from a survey series conducted from 2022 to 2024 with a targeted sample size of about 70,000 people about democracy, their confidence in institutions and information, as well as their voting behaviour.
The response rate of the fifth and final panel, where the question was asked about hopefulness in democracy, was about 24 per cent.
Respondents were asked to respond to how hopeful they were about certain topics when thinking about the future in Canada, including “the way democracy works in Canada.”
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They were asked to rate their feelings in one of four categories, ranging from not at all hopeful to very hopeful.
They were also asked about their confidence in institutions and information sources, voting behaviours and political participation.
The report comes as three major votes are set to be held in Canada in October — provincial elections in Quebec and British Columbia and a referendum in Alberta with a question on separation.
The Prairie provinces, including Alberta, had the highest percentage of respondents who felt no hope at all about democracy, about 25 per cent. British Columbia led with those who felt very hopeful, about 15 per cent.
The study didn’t find a link between faith in democracy and voter turnout but says those with no hope were more likely to participate in political activity.
The report also details how non-immigrants reported a less hopeful view on democracy than immigrants and non-permanent residents.
And it suggested that people with better mental health were more likely to feel very hopeful than those who reported poor mental health.
Respondents who said they were not hopeful at all about democracy reported lower trust in scientific experts and civic institutions, like Canadian news media and the justice system, and instead placed their trust in local businesses and police services.
Overall, the more faith respondents had in democracy, the more trust they said they placed on civic institutions, including Parliament and the school system.
Politics is all about keeping a chosen few at the top and most of us at the bottom, been like that forever. I’m the king of the castle and you’re the dirty rascal
Living under the UCP, I can see why Albertans had the highest percentage of respondents who felt no hope at all about democracy.
Of course BC feels hopeful. Province is full of people who suckle off the governments teat. As long as i have someone paying my bills, yea i feel hopeful.
How are we supposed to believe in democracy when our premier just 2 weeks ago pulled one of the scummiest and most blatantly power hungry moves we have seen in the last decade. Add that to the impressive list of carneys corruption scandals and it doesn’t take too much brain power to figure out why everyone is losing faith.
But for as long as the liberals keep importing votes and manipulating the media, this is exactly where we are gonna be. And its only going to get worse people, remember that.
Good – Democracy is a scam. Your prospective leaders are hand picked puppets vetted by the oligarchy that owns democracy….so they can further their plundering and control over you.
46% of Canadians are either immigrants or the children of immigrants. Given that they have more children than Caucasians, and that immigration will continue, Canada is going to be a much different country, more so than it already is.
Canada has become like Europe where home ownership is largely out of reach. If you embrace socialist policies and vote for liberal progressives, you’ll find your world gets much smaller over time. Like Margaret Thatcher said, ” Socialism is great until you run out of other people’s money.” Canada has reached that point, and the lowest growth rate in the western world is proof.
Gen Xer here and I agree 100%.
After over a decade of undemocratic Liberals in power, I don’t blame them.
Corrupt liberal policies and actions have done that…
I’m in “those 65 and older” group and I don’t feel hopeful at all.
And this survey was from 2022-2024 timeframe, I bet the “not at all” numbers have gone up significantly.
These 25-44 year olds who are concerned need to get out and vote at every government level including municipal and keep democracy alive because the alternative isn’t good. The governments won’t change if people don’t vote to change them when they seem to stop working for Canadians. Crying and whining won’t change anything but get out to vote could. Democracy will only work if people go out and vote because when you don’t that opens the door for dictatorship and communism. If all the generations went out to vote they would out vote the boomers (who seem to be getting the blame ) for the mess we are in.
Another lost decade.
Ben is salivating at the thought of a Communist Canada with Chairman Marx Carney as Eternal Supreme Leader
Anonymous
September 30, 2026 at 8:45 pm
Canadians are in for crude awakening. Hope you enjoy working till your 80
I detest the Liberals, but rich folks seem to not mind working till they are 80? I intend to work for as long as I can. But not for any more assholes. For me and me alone.
The recent behaviour of our government both Federal and Provincial has done little to help. Floor crossers, snap elections, getting taxed into submission. You can say what you want if it what the liberals want you to say. If not, you get attacked and villified. Canada is not what it used to be.
We don’t have a democracy in Canada, we just vote in dictators for 4 years and pat ourselves on the back that we are a democracy.
Examples: Do municipal councillors listen to the majority about infill? No.
Does the provincial government listen to the people about building more hospitals? No.
Does the Federal Government listen to the majority about immigration? No.
Democracy doesn’t exist in Canada.
Sending more money to Ukraine should help. Letting in more immigrants will help. Selling our infrastructure to foreigners should help. Electing a career con-man as PM should help. Higher fuel and rent prices should help . Am i missing something?
Hmmm. Let’s see: you filled the country full of immigrants that even liberals didn’t want. You keep giving away our tax-dollars to the ultra-poor, ultra-rich, and whomever else you declare a victim today, widening the wealth gap. You let corporate monopolies take over every market imaginable just to cut jobs and raise prices. Housing prices have tripled while our taxes increase and our wages decrease, except for minimum wage which is getting awfully close to what I make despite having a college degree.
Yeah, if this is democracy, then Canadians are either idiots, or were royally screwed by a government we don’t even want.
There hasn’t been democracy in canada since the laurentian elites fully centralized power in the east circa 1967.
Here in Alberta we have had cons in power all along. Our roads are paved in gold just to start with.
Democracy in Canada died when Trudeau was elected the Liberals/NDP ruined Canada and all the time Carney was waiting in the wings to take the reins.
Young Canadians are right our freedoms are diminishing.
The best in the canadian citizen can hope for is a quick death
Canada sucks
Canadians are in for crude awakening. Hope you enjoy working till your 80
True, we see facist growing every where,starby the USA, Russia, Argentina, Chile, and some strong right wing party in Europe close to take power, very scary
Ben isn’t wrong in his diagnosis. We are in an end stage of capitalism.
I just disagree with his solution.
I’m not surprised. Canada’s interpretation of “democracy” is failing them. We have let our great country turn into some sort of globalized oligarchic economic zone whose grand purpose is spoils for the world’s elite. We have let our children down.
Sadly, they are leaning towards communism as the alternative. Right Ben?
Democracy is DEAD! CARNEY HAS KILLED IT! The Liberals have introduced fascism into Canada. Carney is pushing us into thr fascist EU block. Carney can f*ck right off!
Ben
September 30, 2026 at 5:47 pm
We are near end stage capitalism, so that’s to be expected. The whole system is built on debt and eventually will crash.
Oh ya Ben?
I’ll tell you what, meet me here in 50 years and will see what you have to say then. And no, I will not accept a statement from your personal Robot.
So you’re saying it’s a mental health problem if you don’t feel hopeful……
We are near end stage capitalism, so that’s to be expected. The whole system is built on debt and eventually will crash.
Maybe if these young Canadians actually had jobs and actually paid big taxes they would be thinking different. Baristas don’t pay much tax.
Not surprising. Our premier in BC just pulled the most undemocratic move possible. Plus he calls out Trump constantly but then acts exactly like him.
Elections are fake. If you think your vote means anything your an idiot. Its all theater to distract from the corruption.
Who do I vote for? Toilet full of turd A or toilet full of turd B?