Satisfaction with MPs on the upswing, study finds

• Canadians’ civic engagement and satisfaction with politicians are on the upswing, Samara Canada’s latest democracy survey has found.

Data gathered by the nonprofit organization show Canadians were generally between five and 10 percentage points happier with political parties’ and MPs’ performance and engagement in fall of 2016 than they were two years before that.

While some “correction” might be happening in the past few months, which have been hard on the Trudeau Liberals, executive director Jane Hilderman says she believes the broader trend still holds.

It could offer Canada an opportunity to escape from the “tipping point” of political dissatisfaction that has resulted in “democratic recession” in the U. S. and U.K., she told the National Post — although “there are certainly groups of Canadians who do feel disaffected,” she acknowledged.

In its second Democracy 360 report, Samara gives Canada a B- grade overall, up from a C in 2015, partly due to Canadians awarding “above- passing grades to MPs and political parties on their core jobs.

The percentage of Canadians who s ay t hey’re “very” or “fairly” satisfied with democracy is up to 71 per cent from 65 per cent in 2014. People reported having more political discussions ( 67 per cent, from 61), but engagement in political activities increased only slightly (38 per cent, from 36). Results are based on an online survey of 4,003 from late September to early October.

There were gains across the board in trust and satisfaction with political leaders. Trust in MPs to “do what’s right” increased to 47 per cent from 40. Trust in parties was also up to 47 per cent, from 42. Satisfaction with how MPs are doing their jobs went up to 53 per cent, from 46, and up to 50 per cent, from 42, for political parties.

In specific job performance categories, MPs and political parties went from failing grades in 2014 to passing grades in 2016.

The data offer some contrast to the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer released earlier t his year, which found Canadians are becoming less trusting of their institutions. General trust in government declined 10 points from 53 per cent to 43 per cent from the previous year’s data, according to the firm.