Most Canadians See Budget as Neither Good nor Bad

An Ipsos poll for Global News finds most Canadians are lukewarm on the federal budget and wary of a trade deal with the U.S.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Economic Indicators

Most Canadians See Budget as Neither Good nor Bad

Live Poll

Do you think a new trade deal with the U.S. would be good for Canada?

A new Ipsos poll conducted for Global News found that 62 per cent of Canadians describe the federal budget as neither good nor bad. Only 17 per cent view it positively, while 21 per cent view it negatively.

Why it matters

The findings suggest most Canadians do not expect the budget to change their personal finances, with 65 per cent saying it will neither help nor hurt them. Public sentiment on trade is also cautious, with 55 per cent saying they can never trust Americans the same way again.

The Ipsos poll measured public opinion rather than economic outcomes, with 14% of Canadians expecting the budget to help them financially and 21% expecting it to hurt them. Its effect on the broader economy has not been measured in the poll.

The players

Mark Carney

Mark Carney is the Prime Minister of Canada, and 39% of Canadians in the poll believe he will succeed in negotiating a new trade deal with Trump.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the President of the United States, and his administration's trade policies are central to the poll's findings on Canada-U.S. trade negotiations.

The details

Ipsos asked Canadians to compare the federal budget with the U.S. midterm elections, and 44% said the budget will have a greater impact on the country, compared with 24% who chose the midterms. Among those surveyed, 49% said they are more optimistic about reaching a trade deal that is good for Canada, while 53% believe Canada should wait until Donald Trump leaves office before making a new deal.

November 15, 2026: Global News publishes the Ipsos poll results on the federal budget and trade.

Macro View

The poll reflects public expectations shaped by the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade disputes under the Trump administration's tariff policies. Sixty-four per cent of Canadians expect the disputes to continue for several years, which points to a prolonged period of uncertainty rather than a short-term disruption.

For most Canadians, the poll suggests the federal budget will not change their household finances directly, with 65% expecting no effect. Anyone with a mortgage or savings should watch how trade negotiations with the U.S. develop, since 64% expect the disputes to last several years.

The takeaway

Most Canadians are waiting to see how the budget and trade talks play out, and their caution suggests trust in the U.S. relationship will take time to rebuild. Readers should expect uncertainty to persist for years rather than months.