Canadians And Their Governments

The Argyle Public Relationships Index™, conducted in partnership with Leger Research Intelligence, measures the quality of relationships between organizations and their publics.

In our spring 2020 study, respondents report an improvement in their perceived relationships with every order of government – provincial, federal and municipal – during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While all governments have improved their relationships with Canadians, Quebec’s provincial government has gained the most, and Alberta’s the least, with Justin Trudeau’s federal government in between.

Relationship change with the federal government, by region:

Relationship change with provincial governments, by region:

Relationship change with municipal governments, by region:

This edition of the Argyle Public Relationships Index™ is based on a survey of 1,590 Canadians, completed between March 27-30, 2020, using Leger’s online panel, LegerWeb. The margin of error for the study was +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20. Leger’s online panel has approximately 400,000 members nationally and has a retention rate of 90%.

To what extent has your relationship with governments improved or declined during the COVID-19 pandemic?

To what extent has your relationship with your provincial government improved or declined during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Ranking of provincial governments in net improvement of relationships with residents, by region (% respondents reporting “relationship improved” minus “relationship declined”)

Quebec +67
Atlantic Provinces +48
Ontario +33
British Columbia +27
Manitoba / Saskatchewan +20
Alberta +12

To what extent has your relationship with the federal government improved or declined during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Net improvement in relationships between Canadians and the federal government, by region (% of respondents reporting “relationship improved” minus “relationship declined”)

Atlantic Provinces +67
Ontario +48
British Columbia +33
Manitoba / Saskatchewan +27
Alberta +20
Quebec +12

To what extent has your relationship with your municipal government improved or declined during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Net improvement in relationships between Canadians and municipal governments, by region (% of respondents reporting “relationship improved” minus “relationship declined”)

Atlantic Provinces +36
Quebec +31
Ontario +23
Manitoba / Saskatchewan +11
Alberta +11
British Columbia +5