VANCOUVER – On April 19, Canadians will learn the contents of the first federal budget they have seen in more than two years.
New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute shows the challenges are immense.
Three-in-five (63%) Canadians say they are worried about having enough money to support themselves in retirement. Half (53%) are concerned that someone in their home will lose their job in the near future. When it comes to their own financial health, Canadians fall into one of four categories: the thriving, secure, challenged and suffering.
The new data shows past Conservative Party voters prioritize economic growth and paying down the deficit, projected to be more than $380 billion for the year. For past Liberal and NDP supporters, those priorities fall well below social program investment, and tackling the cost of living in Canada.
One-in-three Canadians say they are worse off now than they were 12 months ago. Half as many (16%) say that they are better off, while 47 per cent say their situation has not changed.
Only 38% of Canadians are confident that they will live as well as their parents’ generation (63% among the thriving say they will match or exceed this standard, compared to just 13% among the suffering.
