Generational gap: youth want homes, older voters want to fight Trump

A recent Abacus poll highlights a stark generational divide between younger Canadians under 30 and seniors when it comes to priorities in the current election.

Source: Rawpixel

A recent Abacus poll highlights a stark generational divide between younger Canadians under 30 and seniors when it comes to priorities in the current election.

For Canadian youth, affordability issues are the overwhelming concern with 47 per cent citing cost of living as a top concern, while 28 per cent stress housing affordability.

Meanwhile, older Canadians, especially those over 60, are more preoccupied with U.S. President Donald Trump’s influence, with 50 per cent listing “Dealing with Donald Trump” as a key issue in the election.

While the majority of Canadians (57 per cent) believe it’s time for a change in government, a large segment of Liberal-leaning voters seem less interested in domestic economic woes and more in the spectre of Trump.

Among voters who prioritize cost-of-living relief, nearly half (46 per cent) support the Conservatives, while those fixated on Trump back the Liberals by a margin of 54 per cent to 26 per cent.

This dynamic sets up a clear generational divide: younger Canadians are focused on tackling economic stagnation, soaring costs, and inflation, while older voters are fixated on a U.S. president.

A Juno News exclusive poll suggests that while the Liberals maintain an apparent lead, the so-called “shy Conservative effect” may indicate a more competitive race than surface numbers suggest.

According to the poll conducted by ONE Persuasion for Juno News, Mark Carney’s Liberals currently hold 41 per cent of decided voter support, with Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives trailing at 35 per cent.

However, the Liberals are losing ground in the second most represented province Quebec.

The Bloc Québécois has surged ahead to 36 per cent, pushing the Liberals down to 34 per cent.

This follows Carney’s decision to evade the French TVA debate.

In Ontario, both the Liberals (45 per cent) and Conservatives (36 per cent) remain locked in a battle, while in the Atlantic provinces, the Liberals maintain a commanding 63 per cent lead.

Demographically, the poll indicates a shift in Poilievre’s male voter base, with Carney gaining traction among men aged 35-54 and 55+.

Among older women over 55, Carney commands a significant lead at 53 per cent, compared to Poilievre’s 27 per cent.

Carney was seen as the best choice for prime minister by 40 per cent of respondents, compared to Poilievre’s 26 per cent.

When respondents were asked who they believed their neighbours were voting for, Conservatives (29 per cent) led the Liberals (25 per cent), with 34 per cent unsure.

This polling method has previously been used to detect hidden conservative support in elections, most notably in the U.S. with Donald Trump.