Back to Earth for Mark Carney?

New survey from the Angus Reid Institute shows the Liberals sliding, though Poilievre remains deeply unpopular outside his base.

A new federal poll from the Angus Reid Institute (ARI) points to waning enthusiasm for Mark Carney’s Liberals as the fall parliamentary session soon gets under way in Ottawa.

The survey, conducted between August 28 and September 4, 2025, finds approval of Carney’s performance as prime minister on a downward trend — though his net rating remains in positive territory. Meanwhile, half of respondents say Canada is on the “wrong track,” compared with just 28% who say it is on the “right track.”

The lone silver lining for the Liberals? Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s favourables remain deeply underwater.

Let’s explore these numbers.

Conservatives lead by two

This is ARI’s first publicly released voting-intention poll since the April general election. Nationally, the Conservatives hold 40% support, narrowly ahead of the Liberals at 38%.