Trust, Participation & Belonging Report

Key Takeaways

Participation in Democratic & Community Activities

1. Canadians demonstrate commitment to democracy through a fairly robust level of involvement in a range of democratic activities, even though they mostly take part in more “passive” actions rather than being on the frontlines of activism. Their level and intensity of participation in democratic activities is very much impacted by whether or not they feel they can make a difference, and by how much they perceive elected officials pay attention to their views.

2. Canadians are active in their local community. This engagement is associated with a stronger preference for democracy as a form of government, a more positive evaluation of representative democracy, a stronger believe that they have a role to play in democratic processes, and a greater trust in key democratic institutions and actors.

Trust in Democratic Institutions & Actors

3. Canadians display a lukewarm level of trust in democratic institutions and actors, particularly with respect to the media, Parliament, journalists, and elected officials. Trust is very much dependent upon Canadians’ views of who benefits from democracy and whether they believe they have a role to play in their democracy or can have influence on how it works. 

4. Trust is an important building block of Canadian democracy. It is positively associated with Canadians’ preference for and commitment to democracy as a system of government, as well as their engagement in democratic activities. It also helps to undermine the view that democracy ignores citizens’ interests in favour of the establishment and dampens the appeal of populist messages.

5. Canadians do not display a high degree of polarization based on anger towards those who do not share their political views.

Sense of Belonging

6. Canadians have a strong sense of belonging to the “geographic spaces” in which they live – Canada, province/territory, neighbourhood. Their connectedness is positively associated with a stronger preference for democracy as a form of government, a more positive evaluation of representative democracy, a stronger believe that they have a role to play in democratic processes, and a greater trust in key democratic institutions and actors.