The New Ontario: The Shifting Attitudes of Ontarians toward the Federation

February 23, 2010

New public opinion data suggests that attitudes of Ontarians toward the federation are shifting. From 1998-2005, Ontarians were unique amongst Canadians in believing their home province was treated well in the federation. Today, Ontarians resemble other Canadians in believing that there are inequities in the federation that must be addressed. The implications for our national politics may soon be apparent. The Ontario public may no longer be supportive of its provincial government playing its traditional role as a consensus-builder among competing provincial interests, potentially making divisive issues like carbon pricing even more volatile. Responding to this “New Ontario” will require the federal government to adopt a positive agenda for Ontario.

Download Now
320.2 KB PDF

About the Authors

J. Scott Matthews is an assistant professor of political studies at Queen’s University. His research specializes in the study of elections, voting and public opinion, and is incoming Co-Director of the Canadian Opinion Research Archive.

Matthew Mendelsohn is the Director of the Mowat Centre and an associate professor in the School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Toronto. He has served as a Deputy Minister in the Ontario Government and a senior policy advisor in the Privy Council Office in the federal government. He was a member of the Department of Political Studies at Queen’s University from 1994-2004.