India-Canada tension: Poll shows Trudeau losing public confidence on home soil

The poll results come at a time when relations between Canada and India are at an all-time low.

Amidst a diplomatic standoff with India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been pipped by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to be the best choice as prime minister for the North American country, according to a poll reported in the Canadian media. Poilievre has received the backing of 40 percent of Canadians saying he’s the best choice to be prime minister, in an Ipsos poll published in Global News. While Trudeau's popularity remains static at 31 percent year-on-year, Poilievre’s favourables are up five points from 2022.

Ipsos CEO Darrell Bricker was quoted as stating this gap shows the Conservatives could form a majority government if an election was held today.

“When you take a look at why Canadians are feeling the way they are right now, [there’s] real dissatisfaction with the direction of the country. Particularly when it concerns the big issues that are on their personal agendas,” Bricker was quoted as saying, citing the cost of living, access to housing, and inflation.

“So a real economic set of concerns.”

The poll results come at a time when relations between Canada and India are at an all-time low. It all started when Trudeau accused India of playing a role in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar by claiming in the Canadian parliament there were “credible allegations of a potential link”. Canada then expelled a top Indian diplomat from the country on September 19 as a consequence, which was reciprocated by India, who expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move.

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The two countries then issued travel advisories for their respective citizens based in the two countries. The escalating tension, which still hasn't died down as of publishing this article, could derail trade between the two countries. Read here on how the deteriorating situation could scupper expansion plans of airlines.

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The reasons for Trudeau's dip in popularity on home soil can be attributed to core issues the country is facing, which are centred around the economy, health care, and housing. The poll participants feel Poilievre has the best plans across all three areas for Canadians.

Poilievre’s popularity is at the very top in every Canadian province and region except for Quebec, which was not included in this poll.

Jagmeet Singh of the NDP party, who has been a staunch supporter of the Khalistan movement, is third in the poll with 22 percent, while Yves-François Blanchet of the Bloc Québécois has the support of 6 percent of the respondents.