Political Trust and Democracy: Canada in Comparative Perspective

Rising polarization, disinformation, and populist anti-system movements have contributed to a state of uncertainty for democracy. Some scholars suggest that many countries are experiencing democratic backsliding and declining public support for democracy, while others argue these trends are overstated or mismeasured. Alongside this debate, political trust is being examined with increasing concern, with cross-national research among democracies signaling a trend of declining trust in partisan political institutions yet stability in less partisan institutions. This paper examines these issues in the Canadian context, analyzing data on democratic backsliding and political trust. Findings suggest that, unlike many other countries, Canada has not experienced democratic erosion, with its democracy score showing a slight increase over the past decade. Political trust levels remain relatively high, though trends in trust, particularly in the police, warrant further scrutiny. While Canada appears resilient, trends in polarization and populism raise questions about whether its stability will persist in the long term.