Conservatives lead on affordability as Canadians view Carney as Trudeau 2.0

Poilievre’s Conservatives have gained a narrow lead as cost-of-living concerns continue to surge, with the majority of Canadians now viewing Carney as a continuation of the Trudeau era.

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Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives have gained a narrow lead as cost-of-living concerns continue to surge, with the majority of Canadians now viewing Prime Minister Mark Carney as a continuation of the Trudeau era, according to a new Abacus Data poll.

The Abacus poll conducted last week found the Conservatives at 41 per cent support, up one point, compared with 40 per cent for the Liberals, who held steady.

The poll found that 62 per cent of Canadians now rank the rising cost of living among their top three concerns, up five points in the past two weeks, giving the Conservatives a 13-point lead over the Liberals among voters who prioritize affordability.

The party also holds commanding advantages on the economy, crime, and immigration, while the Liberals continue to lead on healthcare and climate change.

Abacus reports that 55 per cent of Canadians believe Carney’s government is “very or fairly similar” to former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s, while only 36 per cent see it as different.

Among those who view that similarity negatively, 80 per cent say they intend to vote Conservative.

The results suggest Conservative messaging linking Carney to his predecessor’s record on housing, debt, and inflation is resonating.

While Carney retains a modest personal favourability lead at +14, only 40 per cent of Canadians say he has met expectations as prime minister, while 41 per cent say he has underperformed.

Abacus CEO David Coletto said the data shows the “anti-Trudeau” contrast remains politically powerful.

“Being the anti-Trudeau matters — and not just symbolically,” he said in the report.

Regionally, the Liberals lead narrowly in Ontario and Atlantic Canada, while the Conservatives dominate Alberta and are tied with the Liberals in British Columbia.

With only 34 per cent of Canadians saying the country is headed in the right direction, the poll points to a restless electorate and a stronger Conservative position — the most competitive numbers since Carney took office in April.