Just over 39 per cent of respondents to The Logic’s latest reader survey said they felt optimistic about Canada’s future.

That suggests more hope for the future than was seen in Edelman’s recent Trust Barometer survey, where just 21 per cent of Canadian respondents said they believed the next generation will be better off.

Even so, the optimists in The Logic survey were outweighed by the 46 per cent of respondents who said they were either “somewhat pessimistic” or “very pessimistic” about Canada’s future.

Many readers expressed concerns about the second Trump administration and the potential for a trade war, and bemoaned a lack of “leadership,” both in politics and in industry.

“Canada has an amazing set of assets which should assure an equally amazing future, but we need amazing leadership to get there,” said one reader. “We do not have amazing choices in this regard.”

This was the high point for optimism in the survey. When asked about specific issues—homeownership, retirement, entrepreneurship and job security—respondents were far less hopeful.

The Logic’s readers were most optimistic about entrepreneurship, with 28 per cent believing that it will be easier to start a business in the future, almost matching the 29 per cent who think it will be more difficult. The remaining 43 per cent expected it to remain “about the same,” the largest contingent of fence-sitters for any question asked.

Several people mentioned taxes, regulatory burdens, red tape and a prevalence of oligopolies in Canadian markets as reasons for pessimism. Others complained that Canada doesn’t do enough to foster ambition or an appetite for risk.

Some readers were hopeful in light of discussions to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers, while others expect Conservatives to win the next federal election and work to benefit would-be entrepreneurs.

One respondent who believes it will be somewhat easier to start a business identified a “newfound respect for venture and innovation.” 

“As long as we can continue to support entrepreneurs by connecting them with capital and providing a reasonable balance of a trusted business environment while minimizing the administrative and regulatory burdens associated with starting a business, then we will be further ahead,” the respondent said.

Readers had the grimmest outlook on Canadians’ prospects for job security and retirement, with fewer than three per cent of readers expressing any optimism that either will improve. In fact, not a single respondent believed it will be much easier for Canadians to retire in the future, while 71 per cent said it will be at least somewhat harder.

On job security, 77 per cent believed Canadians will have less reliable employment in the future. Readers cited potential jobs lost due to AI, the rising gig economy and the decline of unions as reasons to be pessimistic about job security and retirement. 

They also frequently pointed to the move away from pension plans and the difficulty of saving money with the rising cost of living.

Housing plays a big part in the cost of living and retirement planning for many Canadians, and respondents’ outlook on homeownership was slightly rosier. A slim majority said it will not be harder for Canadians to become homeowners in the future, but fewer than 17 per cent of those respondents said it would be easier. Many of the “optimistic” views expressed hinged on a massive recession, the boomer generation dying or downsizing, and a belief that the situation can’t get any worse.

One respondent noted that addressing the problem of unaffordable housing may not be in politicians’ best interests. “It will only become easier if prices fall much more than they have, and the two-thirds of us who own will resist that and punish any party that helped make it happen.”

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Methodology

The Logic emailed subscribers a private link to an online survey on Jan. 22., with a closing date of Jan. 24. Respondents’ identities were kept anonymous. Subscribers were first asked, “How optimistic do you feel about Canada’s future?” and could answer “Very optimistic,” “Somewhat optimistic,” “Neither optimistic nor pessimistic,” “Somewhat pessimistic” or “Very pessimistic.”

They were then asked the following three questions: “Do you believe it will be easier or harder for Canadians to become homeowners in the future?” “Do you believe it will be easier or harder for Canadians to retire in the future?” and “Do you believe it will be easier or harder for Canadians to start a business in the future?” For each of those questions, they could respond “Much easier,” “Somewhat easier,” “About the same,” “Somewhat harder” or “Much harder.”

Finally, they were asked, “Do you believe Canadians will have more or less job security in the future?” They could answer “Much more,” “Somewhat more,” “About the same,” “Somewhat less” or “Much less.”