National News posted Apr 25, 2024 @ 12:10pm by Iain Burns

Latest polls: Liberal budget falls flat, young people still not keen on Trudeau, Tories 19 points ahead

The Liberal Party has not seen a boost from the 2024 budget and the Conservatives remain about 20 points ahead among voters, new surveys released this week suggest.

According to the latest Nanos poll, the Tories lead the Grits by 19 points – 41.8 per cent to 23.3.

The latest offering from Ipsos agrees about the 19 points, but disagrees on the exact numbers. It has the Conservatives at 43 per cent and the Liberals at 24.

<who> Photo credit: Ipsos

According to Leger, meanwhile, about half of Canadians – 49 per cent – have a negative view of the federal budget.

Two initiatives were popular with participants in the pollster’s survey, however: the $8.5-billion housing plan and $900-million boost for “greener” homes.

One of the budget’s primary themes was what Justin Trudeau called “generational fairness,” with a particular focus on the struggles of Millennials and Generation Z.

<who> Photo credit: Leger

The prime minister, who polls suggest has lost popularity among all age groups, said earlier this month that young people “have been my motivation since I got into politics 15 years ago.”

But two surveys released by the Angus Reid Institute seem to show the budget hasn’t done much to change perceptions of Trudeau among under-40s.

One of their polls suggests the Tories lead the Liberals 37 per cent to 12 among 18-to-34-year-olds.

<who> Photo credit: Angus Reid Institute

The Liberals’ NDP partners, according to that poll, are at 36 per cent.

Among those aged 35-54, the Tory-NDP-Liberal split is 47-19-19.

Another Angus Reid poll found that “vast majorities” of Millennials and Gen Z adults “express doubt the Liberals have their best interest at heart.”

<who> Photo credit: Angus Reid Institute

It found that 71 per cent of 18-24-year-olds and 68 per cent of 25-34-year-olds don’t think Trudeau is working in their interests.

That poll also put Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre ahead on every issue the respondents were asked about, including Liberal areas of focus like housing, climate change and Indigenous issues.