Canadians who are aware of the recent budget are divided in their reactions, and fewer than half are paying attention.
Innovative Research Group Inc. (INNOVATIVE) conducted and sponsored the online survey among a sample of n=1,191 Canadian citizens, 18 years or older. The results are nationally weighted to n=1,000 based on Census data from Statistics Canada. 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. The survey was in field from November 06, 2026 to November 09, 2026.
In INNOVATIVE Research Group’s post-budget Canada This Month survey, conducted just days after the budget’s release, we find that less than half of respondents (41%) report having heard about the budget. Among that 41%, the budget generated a narrowly divided reception, with 35% satisfied and 34% dissatisfied, for a net +1. This is a marginal +3-point improvement in net satisfaction from the last budget in November 2025 (−2).
Historically, that is on the more positive side of budget reactions, with net satisfaction marginally higher than in 2022 and 2025, and eight points higher than in 2019. Only two in five have heard about it, the lowest of any budget.
Net satisfaction is +56 among Liberal identifiers and -47 among Conservative identifiers. NDP identifiers are net negative (-16), although the small sample size here warrants caution.
Overall, when compared with November 2025, the national topline response to the budget has seen only minimal movement. Among those aware of the budget, satisfaction is evenly divided, with Liberals the most positive and Conservatives the most negative.
