A Statistics Canada study found that people in Canada's Prairie provinces were most likely to feel "not at all hopeful" about democracy, but that perspective didn't have a connection to low voter turnout. Pictured here are Elections Canada signs seen in the Beaches-East York riding in Toronto, on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keito Newman
Young Canadians less hopeful about democracy: Statistics Canada study
Sep 29, 2026 | 3:21 PM
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A study suggests young Canadians are more likely to feel hopeless about democracy than older residents.
The Statistics Canada study found about a quarter of respondents aged 25 to 44 were “not at all hopeful” about how democracy works in Canada, while those 65 and older were more likely to feel very hopeful than not.
The vast majority of those 15 and older were a little or somewhat hopeful about the way democracy works in the country.
The study used data from a survey series from 2022 to 2024 that asked people about democracy, their confidence in institutions and information, as well as their voting behaviour.
