‘Serious governance’ will be the theme of Canadian politics in 2026 |
The governing Liberals, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, face a confluence of crises in 2026, writes Robyn Urback.James Park/Reuters
Heading into 2026, Canada is grappling with talk of separatism referendums in two provinces, Alberta and Quebec. It is slated to participate in a formal review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) at a time when the U.S. has pledged to “reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere.” Public trust in our institutions have plummeted, down nearly 10 percentage points between 2013 and 2024 for our justice system, 13 percentage points for trust in police, and more than 15 percentage points for schools.
According to a recent poll by Abacus Data, 67 per cent of Canadians say the cost of living in their area is the worst they can ever remember it being. Productivity remains stagnant, despite big plans for investment and infrastructure development. And our hospitals are in such dire straits that a 44-year-old man with chest pains can be allegedly made to wait