Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. That is the inevitable takeaway of new polling data released this week.
Amidst a month of incredible geopolitical uncertainty unleashed by President Donald Trump, Canadians ranked as their top concern … the rising cost of living.
And by some distance. A full 60 per cent of Canadians said the rising cost of living should be one of Ottawa’s top three priorities. The economy and health care were cited next, at 42 and 37 per cent, respectively.
Donald Trump and his administration trailed in fourth place at 35 per cent, in the Abacus poll conducted between Jan. 9 and 14.
At first blush, this sentiment may seem surprising, and not only because the pace and pointedness of Trump’s international provocations have accelerated in recent weeks. Statistics Canada’s recently released Consumer Price Index review for 2025 shows price increases have actually moderated.
Specifically, the report says the CPI, which measures the average change in prices for a fixed basket of goods and services, rose just 2.1 per cent in 2025, and 2.4 per cent the year before.
These numbers are below the long-term annual average inflation rate of 3.74 per cent. And they are within the Bank of Canada’s target band of one to three per cent.
But this does not mean voters’ pocketbook concerns should be waved away.
Consumers’ perceptions of rising costs are not measured in tidily defined 12-month periods. Consumers still remember the halcyon, pre-pandemic years when prices were much lower.
“While [2025’s CPI increase] is the lowest average annual increase since 2020, prices remained high in 2025, having risen by 19.9% over the past five years,” the Statistics Canada report says.
In other words, the relatively modest price increases of the past two years still pinch because they come on top of base prices that are up significantly from before COVID.
In addition, many of consumers’ most essential goods, namely food and housing, saw elevated price growth in recent years.
The report notes that grocery price increases accelerated in 2025 across numerous essential categories (don’t tell us coffee is not essential!). And rental prices increased sharply: five per cent last year on top of an eight per cent rise in 2024.
Home prices also rose, by three per cent. This is modest growth, but still significant in a market which saw housing prices soar post-pandemic.
What does all this data mean for Pierre Poilievre, whose fate as Conservative Party leader will be decided at next week’s leadership review?
In one sense, it could be considered good news. Poilievre is strongest when he focuses on the domestic issues that voters feel most dearly.
In an interview with Canadian Affairs this week, Abacus Data’s CEO David Coletto noted that voters who rank Canada’s internal economic and political problems as a top concern “were far more likely to think Poilievre is the right choice [to lead the country].”
Poilievre can also legitimately take credit for some of the cost decreases that Canadians have enjoyed in recent years. The Statistics Canada report points to a decline in energy prices as a key factor for lower CPI growth — and it notes the scrapped consumer tax as a key reason for this drop.
“The drop in gasoline prices (-8.6%), mainly attributable to the elimination of carbon pricing for consumers in April, contributed most to the decrease in 2025,” the report says, adding that the tax elimination also drove down natural gas prices.
But finding new issues to make his rallying cry could be Poilievre’s great challenge now.
For Prime Minister Mark Carney, the challenge is translating rhetoric into reality.
Carney’s rousing speech at Davos this week confirmed for many that he is the man for the job for which Canadians elected him: to lead Canada through this turbulent period with the U.S.
His less-than-rousing national address delivered two days later may have underwhelmed those Canadians worried about issues closer to home. Yes, Carney said the right things, noting affordability has been a “relentless focus” of his government.
But close to a year into his term, many Canadians are still waiting to see results.
On housing, for example, Carney all but promised the moon. But experts have so far panned his government’s supply-side housing initiatives. HIs government has, for example, written big cheques to municipalities for infrastructure projects, even when they have failed to deliver on Ottawa’s fairly modest requirement to reduce their barriers to housing development.
Same for health care. What’s the plan? Yes, health care is a matter of provincial jurisdiction, but so is housing.
Ottawa can use carrots or sticks to force provinces to make much-needed changes in housing and health care. If Carney plans to address voters’ top concerns, he’s going to have to start doing so — and fast.
The CPI increase as a percentage may be lower, but the dollar amount is still higher overall. A $1.00 can of, say, diced tomatoes, pre pandemic, is now $1.89 (at discount grocery stores),
So every year the percentage is calculated on a higher amount. And lower income households and those on fixed incomes need relief. This is simple math that real folks understand, and this needs to be addressed. Increase taxes on higher incomes and raise the amount of tax free earnings significantly to reflect the hardships facing a large portion of this country.
The poll that I filled out was schewed to be a Poliviere one! Could see by some questions! Think we are lucky to have Carney in there right now, but also shows that electing a Prime Minister should not be like a popularity contest (which they ultimately are), but taking time to ensure you have an intelligent enough person who is honest and sincere to be the leader! Thank God Canadians say what happened electing Trump in the USA and we did not elect his Canadian puppet! Canadian population has more brains the electors south of our borders! And feel very bad for PCs as they do have some great people in the party but like Trump, Pierre Poliviere has control of their party right now! Hopefully at leadership review he will get deleted! Issue here is like Trump, if you vote against him and he prevails, you need him to sign you nomination papers! This is where politics has gone off the rails! A leadership race like this should be secret ballot so no chance of reprisals!
Read the article about Mr Poilievre’s chances re leadership / a conservative win.
While not at all partisan, I find myself gritting my teeth everytime Mr Poilievre is shown in the news. We are in a world of trouble right now with Canadians worrying about the cost of living, sheltering themselves and being unable to return to work in Vancouver because they can’t find daycare.
How is it helpful to behave like a junkyard dog? I want grown ups in government that solve problems in an adult non partisan way. That is what I want and expect.
Frankly, I’m tired of posturing and pretend indignation from a person who has never worked in the real world and whose contributions are largely theoretical. Although I am taking aim at the conservative leader, it is the way I feel about a number of politicians of different parties.
Stop talking. Do something.
Shirley Hunter
I was hoping Canadian Affairs would have less of a Conservative bias.
The nature of a democracy is supposed to be that when the election is over, the parties work together for the benefit of the citizens. I am sick to death of the constant campaigning.
Poilievre’s comments on the Venezuela invasion are disgusting. Supporting DJt is disgusting! I’ve never cared for him but have had no choice but to vote Conservative to remove the slime that’s been actively working to destroy this country, carrying on what his father started in the 80s.
If the CP keep him on as leader the party is done, just like the PC party after Mulroney. They should have stayed dead.
This gentleman is making a valid observation. Your response was untssteful..
I agree that this publication seems biased toward PP and the conservatives. The Conservative Party has become useless. They need to change up their leader and their message. They are not for Canadians…just look at PP’s voting record.