Media, Parliament, big corporations least trusted by Canadians

By Leila Lemghalef

A Statistics Canada study of public confidence in Canadian institutions during 2013 and 2014, released this morning, reveals that only a minority of Canadians trust media, Federal Parliament, and major corporations.

The findings show that 40 per cent of Canadians are confident in media, 38 per cent are confident in Federal Parliament, and 30 per cent are confident in major corporations. Only one out of ten people, or fewer, regard these institutions with a “great deal of confidence.”

The survey asked Canadians their confidence in the police, the school system, banks, the justice system and courts, media, Federal Parliament, and major corporations.

Residents of the Maritimes reported some of the least confidence in Federal Parliament, while residents of Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec reported the most confidence.

In British Columbia, confidence in every institution ranked lower than the provincial average, with the exception of media, which was on par with the provincial average.

Out of all the institutions, the police ranked the highest in public confidence across the country.

Some six out of ten Canadians stated they were confident in the school system, banks, and the justice system and courts.

In general, women, older Canadians, visible minorities, Canadians with a household income of $80,000 or more, and immigrants were more likely to express confidence in government and institutions.

Residents of Toronto and Calgary generally expressed more confidence in institutions compared to other cities, with residents of Toronto having reported the most confidence in the justice system and courts, banks, and Federal Parliament, as well as higher than average confidence in major corporations.

On the other side of the scale, confidence was the lowest in Quebec’s metropolitan areas, with residents of Montreal having reported lower than average confidence in the police, the school system, banks, the justice system and courts, and major corporations.

[Photo Credit: joiseyshowaa]