The weathered community center in Ottawa South buzzes with quiet anticipation. It’s a diverse crowd tonight – young professionals, retirees, families with school-aged children – all gathered for a town hall on municipal infrastructure plans. When the microphone reaches longtime resident Martha Dubois, her question cuts through the political jargon.
“I’ve lived on this street for 34 years,” she says, her voice steady. “I know every pothole by name. What I don’t know is why I should trust that these plans will actually improve our neighborhood when the last three didn’t.”
Her sentiment echoes findings from the comprehensive 2025 Canadian Trust and Attachment Survey released yesterday by Statistics Canada. The nationwide poll reveals a country deeply connected to their homes and communities, yet increasingly skeptical of the governments meant to serve them.
According to the survey, 78% of Canadians report feeling “somewhat” or “very attached” to their local communities, yet only 53% express trust in their provincial governments. The federal government fares slightly worse, with trust levels hovering at 49% – a five-point drop from similar polling conducted in 2022.
“What we’re seeing is a disconnect between Canadians’ love for place and their faith in governance,” explains Dr. Amina Chaudry, political scientist at Carleton University. “People feel rooted in their communities while simultaneously feeling that governments at all levels aren’t adequately responding to their concerns.”
The regional variations tell an important story. Atlantic Canadians report the highest level of community attachment at 86%, while also expressing the most trust in their provincial governments (61%). In stark contrast, Albertans demonstrate the widest gap between community connection (74%) and provincial government trust (43%).
For perspective, I visited Millbank, Ontario, where fourth-generation farmer Craig Wilson offered his take while checking irrigation lines on his family property.
“Look around,” he gestured to fields stretching toward the horizon. “My great-grandfather cleared this land. My kids play in the same creek I did. But when I drive into town on roads that haven’t been properly maintained in a decade, or when I need internet service that still drops every time it rains – that’s when you start wondering what your tax dollars are actually doing.”
The poll highlights several factors driving this trust deficit. Across all regions, affordability concerns top the list, with 72% of respondents citing housing costs as a key issue undermining confidence in government effectiveness. Healthcare access follows closely at 68%, with climate policy response at 59%.
Prime Minister Anand acknowledged the findings during yesterday’s question period, stating that “trust must be earned through action, not words” and promising renewed focus on affordability measures in the upcoming fall economic update.
Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre was quick to capitalize on the numbers, telling reporters that “Canadians have lost faith because this government has repeatedly broken its promises on the kitchen table issues that matter most.”
But beyond the partisan spin, municipal leaders see opportunity in the data. Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek points to the survey’s finding that 64% of Canadians trust their local governments more than provincial or federal counterparts.
“People can see direct impact at the local level,” Gondek noted in a statement. “When we fix a playground or improve transit frequency, residents experience that improvement immediately. That builds trust through tangible results.”
The polling contains surprising bright spots. Despite declining institutional trust, 81% of respondents expressed confidence in their neighbors and local community organizations – suggesting Canadians are finding solutions outside traditional government structures.
This trend toward community-based problem-solving is evident in places like Trois-Rivières, Quebec, where resident-led initiatives have filled gaps in services. The “Notre Quartier Ensemble” program has organized everything from senior transportation to after-school programming when municipal resources fell short.
“We couldn’t wait for government approval or funding cycles,” explains program coordinator Jeanne Tremblay. “Our neighbors needed help now, so we created systems that work for us.”
For political parties approaching the next election cycle, the message from Canadians appears clear: deliver concrete improvements to daily life or watch trust continue to erode. The strongest correlation in the data links perception of effective service delivery with governmental trust levels.
Back at the Ottawa South town hall, Councillor Shawn Menard addresses Martha’s skepticism with refreshing candor.
“You’re right to question past promises,” he acknowledges. “That’s why we’ve changed our approach – smaller projects completed faster with community oversight committees to ensure accountability.”
As Canadians navigate challenging economic times and global uncertainty, their attachment to home remains a powerful constant. Whether governments can rebuild the trust needed to address our most pressing national challenges remains an open question – one that may define our political landscape for years to come.
The Statistics Canada survey was conducted between March and April 2025, with responses from 3,870 Canadians across all provinces and territories, and carries a margin of error of +/- 2.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
