Conservatives lack trust in national institutions. Scientists, CBC, media seen to be most trustworth
In the second national wave of the Campaign Research Poll, a mixed-mode, online and telephone opinion survey conducted among 1886 Canadian voters, it is noted that federal Conservatives have a lower level of trust in major national institutions related to the political process than do either Liberals or New Democrats.
Of the seven national institutions related to politics and policy-making listed, scientific expertise
scores the highest overall for trustworthiness (83% find this trustworthy, 37% have “a great
deal of trust”). After scientific expertise, the CBC is seen to be especially trustworthy (71%, “a
great deal of trust” - 25%). After these two institutions, there is a significant gap, and the next
most trustworthy institution is seen to be the news media (63% trustworthy, “a great deal of
trust” - 14%), and this is followed by the federal government (56% trustworthy, “a great deal of
trust” - 12%). These are followed, at a distance, by the final three institutions; the internet (53%
trustworthy, “a great deal of trust” - 7%), political polls (45% trustworthy, “a great deal of trust”
- 5%) and big business (39% trustworthy, “a great deal of trust” - 5%).
CONSERVATIVES HAVE LESS TRUST IN INSTITUTIONS
Federal Conservatives have a lower level of trust in almost all of these institutions than do
either Liberals or New Democrats, especially the federal government (33% trustworthy, “a great
deal of trust” - 5%), the CBC (53% trustworthy, “a great deal of trust” - 12%) and the news
media (50% trustworthy, “a great deal of trust” - 8%). Conservatives are also less likely to trust
scientific expertise (76% trustworthy, “a great deal of trust” - 23%) and somewhat less likely
than others to trust political polls (42% trustworthy, “a great deal of trust” - 4%). Conservatives
are no more nor less likely than other partisans to trust the internet and big business.
LIBERALS TRUST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MOST
Liberals have a higher level of trust than other partisans in the federal government (78%
trustworthy, “a great deal of trust” - 21%), political polls (54% trustworthy, “a great deal of trust”
- 7%) and, to a lesser extent, the internet (57% trustworthy, “a great deal of trust” - 8%).
NDP HAS NO TRUST IN BUSINESS
New Democrats are significantly less likely to trust big business (27% trustworthy, “a great deal
of trust” - 2%) than are other political affiliations.
QUEBECKERS, FRANCOPHONES MORE TRUSTING IN ALL INSTITUTIONS
Scientific expertise is especially well trusted by the youngest (44%), males (41%) rather than
females (33%), in Quebec (44%) and among the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 49%).
Strong trust in the CBC is characteristic of the oldest (55+ - 31%), in Quebec (30%), among
Francophones (37%) and among the wealthiest (30%).
Strong trust in the news media is common to the oldest (55+ - 20%), in Quebec (17%), among
Francophones (19%) and among the least wealthy (less than $20K - 18%).
A high level of trust in the federal government is characteristic of the oldest (65+ - 16%), males
(13%) rather than females (10%), among Francophones (14%) rather than Anglophones (11%)
and among the least wealthy (less than $20K - 15%).
Trust in the internet is especially common to the mid aged (35 to 44 - 10%) and among
Francophones (11%).
Strong trust in political polls is characteristic of those in Quebec (8%) and among Francophones
(9%).
High trust in big business is common especially to males (6%) rather than females (3%), in
Quebec (10%), among Francophones (11%) and among the wealthy ($80K to $100K - 7%).
“In general, everyone trusts scientific experts (Conservatives slightly less so), but it may be
surprising to see Canadians have a high degree of trust in the media in general and CBC
specifically, although, once again, this trust is not shared by Conservatives. It may be less
surprising to see that Liberals trust the federal government (and the polls). It is predictable
that the NDP do not see big business in a favourable light, but neither do partisans of other
hues. The wild card we find here is that Quebeckers in general and Francophones specifically,
have a higher level of trust in all these institutions than do Anglophones in the rest of Canada”
said Eli Yufest, CEO of Campaign Research. Eli may be reached at
eyufest@campaignresearch.ca or at (647) 931 4025 ext 109
