Carney’s 2025 budget is getting a more positive response from Canadians than most budgets since 2008, according to INNOVATIVE’s tracking.
These are the results of an online survey conducted between November 05, 2025 to November 18, 2025, sponsored by INNOVATIVE. This survey interviewed n=2,079 Canadian citizens, 18 years or older. The results are nationally weighted to n=1,500. Results are weighted by age, gender, region, education, and self-reported federal past vote to ensure that the overall sample’s composition reflects that of the actual population according to Census data.
When asked, 48% agree that the Liberal Party is still the best party to govern (a 4-point increase since last month), while 33% disagree with this statement. “Time for change” NET agreement is at the lowest point since January this year (+26pts). Even better for the government, over half of Canadians (58%) think an election should be avoided, and only 29% disagree.
The 2025 budget was received better than most past budgets since 2008. Budgets don’t tend to receive positive reviews, or to be top of mind for many Canadians. With that in mind, the recent budget received a NET satisfaction score of -2, putting it on par with Liberal budgets in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Still, it remains polarizing with 38% satisfied vs 39% dissatisfied. Year-over-year satisfaction increased across all party ID segments, with double-digit gains among Liberals (+18 pts), NDP (+30 pts), Bloc (+14 pts), and unaligned (+20 pts). Among the least satisfied with the budget are middle-aged Canadians (29%) and those living in the Prairies (25%).
Young Canadians are most likely to be optimistic about the budget, assessing the general impact as NET positive (+11pts) in contrast to those middle-aged and older, who assess it as negative. When asked about the impact of the budget on younger Canadians, they are a bit more cautious (assigning a NET score of +2pts), but still more optimistic than those middle-aged (-20pts) and older (-12pts).
Overall, the government is probably pleased to see the budget receive relatively positive reviews from many of the voting groups they would hope to appeal to. Liberal and left-leaning voter groups were much happier with this budget than the last, despite its nods towards future austerity. That said, the Conservative opposition will have much to hope for as the government tries to turn some of their commitments into solid accomplishments. The relatively negative response from some of the older demographic groups who broke so hard to the Liberals in the last election also bears watching.
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