September 14, 2023 —The September edition of Pollara Strategic Insights’ Rage Index shows Canadians are angrier than at any other point since Pollara began tracking the Rage Index 13 months ago. This wave also sees record high levels of anger towards the federal government, with 58% either angry or annoyed.
This is being driven by record levels of anger towards the Canadian economy. Economy angst is felt most among Canadians 18-34, with 71% of them annoyed or angry about the economy, significantly higher than any other age group. The housing market is a major pressure point for them, with eight-in-ten (81%) young people annoyed or angry – including 49% who are very angry.
“Young Canadians are the driving force behind this record-high level of anger, and it’s largely due to the housing market” said Dan Arnold, Pollara’s Chief Strategy Officer. “When young people can’t live the same life their parents enjoyed, it’s natural this would lead to frustration.”
While housing pressures are especially acute among young people, inflation is a source of anger for nearly all Canadians. Even though the rate of inflation is significantly lower, the share of Canadians angry about inflation is higher than a year ago.
The Rage Index also found that seven-in-ten (69%) Ontarians are angry or annoyed about Doug Ford’s plan to rezone parts of the greenbelt for housing, up 8 points from December 2022. Only 17% of PC voters are pleased or happy about the plan.
See the full details in our report and commentary in the Toronto Star.
