Poll: Canadians Say Government Too Focused on Trump, Not Domestic Issues

An overwhelming 85% of Canadians say they’re tired of hearing about Donald Trump, according to new polling that reveals growing frustration with the attention devoted to the US president while domestic challenges mount.

The Abacus Data poll, conducted between August 28 and September 2 with 1,500 Canadian adults, found broad fatigue with Trump coverage spanning the political spectrum, with 87% of Conservative voters and 82% of Liberal supporters expressing similar sentiment.

The survey comes as Parliament prepares to resume, and reveals a growing divide between what Canadians want their leaders to prioritize and what they believe Ottawa is actually focused on.

Six in ten Canadians believe the federal government is paying excessive attention to Trump when urgent domestic challenges require solutions, while only one-third think Ottawa is striking the right balance. The criticism spans multiple demographics, with younger Canadians particularly vocal — 70% of those aged 18-44 say the government is too focused on the US president. Even among Liberal voters, 51% believe their own government is distracted by Trump while pressing domestic problems remain unresolved.

When looking ahead to the next two years, 60% of Canadians view domestic challenges, like housing affordability, healthcare, and rising costs, as posing the greatest risk to the country, compared to 40% who see Trump’s policies as the larger danger. The personal impact is even more pronounced: nearly eight in ten Canadians say rising costs, housing, and healthcare will affect their families more than US tariffs or trade policies over the next two years.

Three-quarters of Canadians want federal leaders to spend more time addressing problems at home rather than managing Trump’s policies. This consensus spans party lines, with 82% of Conservative voters and 69% of Liberal supporters agreeing that domestic issues should take priority.

Despite recognizing Trump’s importance, Canadians remain divided on whether Prime Minister Mark Carney can successfully navigate a trade deal. Only 38% believe Carney is likely to secure a fair trade agreement with the US under Trump, while 47% consider it unlikely.

The findings suggest Ottawa faces a significant perception challenge as Parliament resumes. While the government may view US relations as essential to Canada’s stability, most Canadians appear focused on immediate domestic concerns that feel disconnected from international negotiations.

The survey has a statistical margin of error of 2.53 percentage points in either direction, accurate 19 times out of 20. The data were weighted according to census data to match Canada’s population by age, gender, education, and region.

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