Canadians See Political Parties Shifting Towards Extremes, Leaving Many Feeling Politically Homeless, Survey Finds
A recent survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute paints a revealing picture of Canada’s current political landscape, showing that a significant number of Canadians believe the country’s two largest political parties, the federal Liberals and Conservatives, have shifted toward more extreme positions. This trend is leaving many voters feeling alienated, with more than one-third of respondents (36%) describing themselves as “political orphans” who feel that all political options have become too extreme for their views.
The survey, which ran from August 29 to September 4, 2024, and included 1,602 Canadian adults, highlights a growing dissatisfaction with the nation’s political scene, with nearly half (48%) of respondents stating that they don’t feel there is a political party that “really represents” their views. This frustration spans the political spectrum, as both long-time supporters of the Conservatives and Liberals, as well as likely voters from other parties such as the NDP and Bloc Québécois, share the sentiment that they lack a political home.
Shift Toward Extremes One of the survey’s most striking findings is the widespread belief that both the Liberal and Conservative parties have drifted away from the political center. Nearly half of the respondents (48%) believe the Conservative Party of Canada has shifted further to the right, with 29% saying it has moved “a lot more” to the right and another 19% saying it has moved “a bit.” Similarly, 43% of Canadians feel that the Liberal Party of Canada has moved further left, with 29% believing it has shifted “a lot more” to the left and 14% saying it has moved “a bit.”
This perception of political polarization is contributing to a broader disillusionment with the federal political scene. Canadians from different political affiliations express concern over the lack of centrist positions, which they believe leaves the moderate voter underrepresented. In fact, nearly half (47%) of those who identify as part of the political middle feel that all parties have become too extreme, contributing to the growing sense of disenchantment with the country’s political landscape. Political Homelessness: A
Growing Problem
The sense of being politically homeless or orphaned is a notable theme in the survey. Not only do many Canadians feel that political parties are abandoning the middle, but a substantial number of voters express dissatisfaction with the available political options. The survey revealed that nearly half of all respondents (48%) feel they have no political party or candidate that truly represents their views. This sentiment is particularly prevalent among the country’s moderates, with many feeling alienated from both the right-leaning and left-leaning parties. Moreover, this disillusionment is not confined to any single political group. The survey found that 40% of current Conservative supporters and 39% of Liberal supporters believe they don’t have political options that accurately reflect their views.