A new public opinion poll has found that 'cost of living' has replaced 'healthcare' as the top election issue for Canadians.
The poll found that 28% of Canadians surveyed said making the cost of living and affordability better for themselves and/or their family is the top issue in the current federal election.
Tackling climate change was cited as the next most important issue, with 23% of Canadians saying preserving the environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reversing climate change is a top ballot box issue.
According to poll by Maru, the next top election issues are curtailing government spending, so the deficit does not grow (19%), creating jobs and growing the economy (17%), and keeping Canadians safe from COVID-19 (15%).
In the last federal election held in 2019 before the pandemic, access to affordable healthcare had been cited as the most important issue among Canadian voters.
The latest survey of 1,511 Canadian adults was conducted between August 13 and 15 and has an estimated margin of error of +/- 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20. Canadians were asked by Maru to select the top two issues that need to be addressed by the federal leaders and are currently shaping their election choice.
The survey comes as inflation rose 3.7% year-over-year in July, compared to 3.1% in June, the strongest rise in prices since May 2011. Prices increased at a faster year-over-year pace in six of the eight major components, according to Statistics Canada.
