Canadians views on where Canada should invest funds and efforts revealed in Ipsos poll ahead of federal budget

Canadians believe current generation of children face more frightening future than their own

March 21, 2023 (TORONTO) – A new Ipsos poll out today ahead of the March 28 federal budget shows where Canadians feel government should invest—even if it results in higher taxes, more government debt or less spending in other areas. Influencing to end conflicts and wars (77%) and investing in food security to ensure children never face hunger (76%) were the top two results when it comes to how Canadians polled see Canada’s role in tackling global challenges.

Additionally, the poll revealed that eight in ten (85%) Canadians agree that children around the world now face a more frightening future than their own generation. To this, Boomers and Gen X are most inclined to agree (87%), followed by Millennials (84%) and Gen Z (78%). Canadians cite the top risks or dangers for children overall as food security and the impacts of climate change.

“The perfect storm of conflict, COVID, climate and cost are weighing heavy on Canadians’ minds as they deal with challenges here at home and see the continued escalation of crises for children around the world. From the Ukraine conflict to the hunger crisis in dozens of countries to floods and droughts across the globe, it’s been a relentless few years of devastation and setbacks for children,” said Danny Glenwright, Save the Children president and CEO.

Federal Budget (see full poll results below)

“As the 2023 Federal Budget is set to be released, Canadians’ responses further amplify our call on the government to commit to increasing its international assistance each year to reach a minimum of $10 billion in the 2025 budget,” added Glenwright. “This is in line with the government’s own commitment to increase its funding annually towards 2030 to realize the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Canadians ranked food security as the top risk or danger for children—consistent with the global hunger crisis in which more than 13.6 million children under age five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and 828 million people are going to bed hungry every night.

“Canada was generous and flexible in responding in 2022 and its funding was critical to saving lives. As the scale and scope of this crisis continues to grow, more children’s lives are at risk every day, hour and minute,” added Glenwright. “With a sixth failed rainy season expected to exacerbate the risk to children’s lives in the Horn of Africa and widespread hunger in dozens of other countries from Afghanistan to Syria to Ukraine, we call on Canada to continue to fund the global hunger crisis proportionate to the ongoing need.”

Save the Children also calls on Canada to develop a comprehensive plan that includes both emergency and development funds.

“Canada can save lives today, while also putting measures in place for the medium and long term that focus on preventing further deterioration for children, families and communities with investments in food security,” added Glenwright.

What keeps Canadians up at night?

Canadians also rated their level of anxiety and identified what keeps them up at night when it comes to global and domestic pressures—particularly with respect to the effects on children.

Canadians acknowledge that the challenges facing children around the world feel different from those faced by Canadian children. According to Canadians:

• The top three risks or dangers for children overall include food security (28%), the impacts of climate change (20%) and the affordability and availability of housing (19%).
• The top three challenges that pose the biggest danger/risk to children in Canada are affordability and availability of housing (35%), food security (19%) and the impacts of climate change (17%).
• The biggest perceived risks for children in developing (low-income) countries around the world are thought to be food security (43%), the impacts of climate change (16%) and the affordability of housing (14%).

These are complex issues, and a majority of Canadians acknowledge that they are difficult problems to solve. Four in five say that conflict (83%), climate change (80%), pandemics or other healthcare emergencies (79%) and affordability (79%) are difficult issues to solve, while a majority feel that hunger/food security (76%) and gender equality (57%) are also difficult issues to solve.

“Canada and the global community know how to make great gains in solving the hunger crisis and addressing climate change, but political will, along with short- and long-term funding are needed,” added Glenwright. “On climate, children are the least responsible for the crisis—a driving factor behind the vast majority of humanitarian emergencies—but they will bear the greatest burden of our inaction.”

“Indigenous children in Canada are among those most affected by the climate crisis due to the legacy of colonialism, underfunding, and geographic location. Flooding, forest fires, ice melts, severe rainfall and extreme heat are an increasing threat to their safety and relationship to the land,” said Glenwright. “Through our Generation Hope campaign we spoke to more than 1,200 children in Canada in 2022 and a staggering 88% said they have noticed climate change and inequality affecting the world around them. Children and youth are calling for a seat at the table to influence decision making.”

Canadians said they would support a number of policy interventions from the Canadian government to help children around the world in response to the challenges identified, including:

• Eight in ten (77%) agree that the government should leverage its international influence to end conflicts and war and to build peaceful societies.
• A majority of Canadians (76%) agree that the Canadian government should invest in food security to ensure that children never face hunger, even if it results in higher taxes, more government debt, or decreased spending in other areas.
• Three in four (74%) agree that we should invest in children’s right to survive, learn and be protected, even if it results in higher taxes, more government debt or decreased spending in other areas.
• Two in three (67%) agree that Canada should respond generously to humanitarian crises like earthquakes, flooding and conflict, even if it results in higher taxes, more government debt or decreased spending in other areas.
• Two in three (65%) agree that the government should invest in halting and reversing the effects of climate change, even if it results in higher taxes, more government debt or decreased spending in other areas.
• Half (51%) agree that Canada should increase investment in international development programs, even if it results in higher taxes, more government debt or decreased spending in other areas.

– ENDS –

Notes for editors about the study:

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted from December 14^th to 16^th on behalf of Save the Children. For this survey, a sample of 1,004 Canadians aged 18+ was interviewed online. The poll is considered accurate to within ± 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadians aged 18+ been polled.

For further information and/or to set up an interview, please contact:

Tiffany Baggetta: tbaggetta@savethechildren.ca or 647-517-4563