The research gauged the opinions among Canadians on climate ambition, energy affordability, climate policies aligned with the views of Canadians, as well as governments maintaining affordability as they pursue climate change targets. The research also gauged views on Canada providing a positive environment for investors, completing energy projects on time and getting new projects approved by governments. It also sought to better understand if Canadians believe the federal government is on the right or wrong track when it comes to building energy infrastructure, balancing concerns of different stakeholders and creating policies to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Concern over energy prices hits all time high since 2022, survey shows
Results of quarterly public opinion survey by Positive Energy and Nanos Research shows nearly three in four Canadians are concerned about the energy prices and their views on federal performance on energy projects and climate lean negatively.
The Survey
Key Findings
1. Concern over energy prices sees highest numbers since tracking began: Concern over energy prices hits all time high since tracking began in November 2022 with nearly three in four Canadians (73%) reported being concerned about energy prices they will pay for things like heating and transportation over the next six months (previous high of 66% in 2022-2024).
2. Positive views on climate ambition are bouncing back: After a steady decrease from May 2023 to May 2025, Canadians are more positive about the timing of Canada being ambitious in addressing climate change even if there are costs to the economy with now just under one in two who say it is the best time to be ambitious (47%, compared to the low of 37% in May 2025).
3. Canadians continue to report low scores for the performance of governments ensuring energy affordability in the context of meeting climate change targets: Four in ten Canadians (41%) say governments in Canada do a poor or very poor job of ensuring energy is affordable as Canada works to meet its climate change targets, which is nearly three times as much as those who believe governments do a very good/good job (14%). This is consistent with the wave of research conducted in 2025 (40% poor/very poor job), but lower than the wave in 2024 (52% poor/very poor job).
4. Views on the direction of the federal government on emissions reductions and on energy infrastructure lean negatively: Overall, Canadians are more likely to believe the federal government is on the wrong track rather than the right one when it comes to the direction the federal government is taking for creating policies to help reduce emissions (43% wrong, 26% right), building energy infrastructure to diversify our exports (40% wrong, 32% right), balancing the needs of communities and broader interests (37% wrong, 27% right). Views are split in terms of building energy infrastructure fast enough to meet the demands of Canadians, with over one in three each saying it’s either on the wrong (37%) or on the right (34%) track.
5. One third of Canadians remain uncertain about the direction of the federal government on energy infrastructure and on emissions reductions: About one in three Canadians are unsure whether the federal government is on the right or wrong track when it comes to energy infrastructure (28% unsure for building it fast enough to keep up with the needs of Canadians or to diversify our energy exports, 36% unsure for balancing the needs of communities and broader interests, and 31% unsure for creating policies that help reduce emissions).
4. Views on the direction of the federal government on emissions reductions and on energy infrastructure lean negatively: Overall, Canadians are more likely to believe the federal government is on the wrong track rather than the right one when it comes to the direction the federal government is taking for creating policies to help reduce emissions (43% wrong, 26% right), building energy infrastructure to diversify our exports (40% wrong, 32% right), balancing the needs of communities and broader interests (37% wrong, 27% right). Views are split in terms of building energy infrastructure fast enough to meet the demands of Canadians, with over one in three each saying it’s either on the wrong (37%) or on the right (34%) track.
5. One third of Canadians remain uncertain about the direction of the federal government on energy infrastructure and on emissions reductions: About one in three Canadians are unsure whether the federal government is on the right or wrong track when it comes to energy infrastructure (28% unsure for building it fast enough to keep up with the needs of Canadians or to diversify our energy exports, 36% unsure for balancing the needs of communities and broader interests, and 31% unsure for creating policies that help reduce emissions).
6. Canadians rate Canada poorly when it comes to new energy projects: Canadians are over two times more likely to say Canada is doing poorly rather than well on energy projects, whether it be completing them on time (11% good/very good, 44% poor/very poor), providing a clear policy and regulatory environment for investors (17% good/very good, 37% poor/very poor) or getting new energy projects approved by government (17% good/very good, 41% poor/very poor).