Poilievre would be better at putting up a shelf, but Trudeau would host the better party: poll

Canadians think Justin Trudeau would do a better job of hosting a party than his Tory rival, but prefer Pierre Poilievre when it comes to putting up a shelf or extinguishing a fire in the kitchen, according to a new poll.

The Abacus Data survey asked a representative sample of adults a series of unusual questions about federal political leaders.

Of the 10 questions, Conservative Party Leader Poilievre came out on top in nine.

But Trudeau’s one victory – hosting a party – was decisive, beating Poilievre by 17 points.

Poilievre’s biggest wins, alongside putting out a fire and putting up a shelf, were in taking charge of a map on a road trip, solving an escape room and negotiating a discount.

He was marginally preferred as a seat neighbour on a plane, pub conversationalist and babysitter.

Among Millennials and Gen Z voters, meanwhile, Trudeau did even worse, though he was still preferred as a party host.

That’s despite the prime minister repeatedly courting younger voters in recent months with announcements on housing, daycare and “generational fairness.”

Abacus Data’s CEO, David Coletto, said he based the questions on a survey conducted in the UK.

“It is worth highlighting that Canadians do distinguish between the leaders and many people didn’t simply pick the leader they like the most for each scenario,” Coletto wrote in a summary of the study.

He added: “The differences in perceived abilities between Trudeau and Poilievre reflect a broader narrative about what qualities Canadians currently value in their leaders amid ongoing affordability issues and a seemingly perpetual crisis atmosphere.

"This once again confirms that right now, Canadians, including younger Canadians, are more likely to see Pierre Poilievre as a better fit for the times than Mr. Trudeau.”

The poll, which was conducted between April 11 and 16 and involved 2,300 adults, also found that the Tories have a 20-point lead over the Liberals (43–23).

The Conservatives are preferred in every province except Quebec (where they’re tied for second place with the Liberals), the survey suggests.

They are also preferred among every age group and both men and women.

See the full dataset here.