Canadian support for monarchy hits 'lowest level,' poll results suggest
Following a year of scandal, the popularity of every member of the Royal Family has slipped, according to a new poll.
The survey by Research Co. found 49 per cent of Canadian respondents said they would prefer an elected head of state, over a king or queen. Only 21 per cent said they preferred the monarchy.
“It’s the lowest level that we’ve seen for the monarchy since I started tracking this,” said Research Co. president Mario Canseco, who has been conducting the poll for 13 years.
The Queen is the most favourably regarded royal (64 per cent), but the heir to throne, Prince Charles, is among the most unpopular (35 per cent).
“He’s somebody who isn’t actually doing very well in any demographic when it comes to Canadians,” said Canseco.
“The numbers are very low with baby boomers, low with Generation Xers, low with millennials. Even people who want to see the monarchy continue, believe that Prince William would be a better king,” he said.
A representative from the Monarchist League of Canada called the poll an interesting discussion, but believes if a referendum were ever held on the future of the House of Windsor, Canadians would vote overwhelmingly in its favour.
“Canadians vote with their feet every time there is a royal visit to Canada,” said Bruce Hallsor.
Historically, there is a bump in support following a royal tour, but due to the pandemic, they haven’t been possible.
As for the popularity of Prince Charles, Hallsor believes it will improve once he ascends the throne.
“In countries that are republics, it’s always tough being the vice president,” said Hallsor. “And I think in the monarchies of the world you will actually find that the reigning monarch has much higher approval than the next in line.”
Results are based on an online study conducted from Feb. 18 to Feb. 20, 2022, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What we know so far about the victims of the Buffalo mass shooting
A former police officer, the 86-year-old mother of Buffalo's former fire commissioner, and a grandmother who fed the needy for decades were among those killed in a racist attack by a gunman on Saturday in a Buffalo grocery store. Three people were also wounded.

White 'replacement theory' fuels racist attacks
A racist ideology seeping from the internet's fringes into the mainstream is being investigated as a motivating factor in the supermarket shooting that killed 10 people in Buffalo, New York. Most of the victims were Black.
Ontario driver who killed woman and three daughters sentenced to 17 years in prison
A driver who struck and killed a woman and her three young daughters nearly two years ago 'gambled with other people's lives' when he took the wheel, an Ontario judge said Monday in sentencing him to 17 years behind bars.
CREA reports home sales down in April as mortgage rates rise
Increasing mortgage rates slowed home sales in April from the frenzied pace they started the year at, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Monday.
Canadian WWII flying ace 'Stocky' Edwards dies
One of Canada's most successful Second World War flying aces, James "Stocky" Edwards of Comox, B.C., has died at the age of 100.
Royal tour of Canada: Here's Prince Charles and Camilla's itinerary
Canadians welcome Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, as they embark on a three-day, travel-filled visit starting Tuesday. Between what senior government officials, Canadian Heritage, Rideau Hall and Clarence House have released, here's everything we know about the royal tour and its itinerary.
Amber Heard testifies Johnny Depp assaulted her on their honeymoon
'Aquaman' actor Amber Heard told jurors on Monday that Johnny Depp slammed her against a wall and wrapped a shirt around her neck during their 2015 honeymoon on the Orient Express.
McDonald's to sell its Russian business, try to keep workers
More than three decades after it became the first American fast food restaurant to open in the Soviet Union, McDonald's said Monday that it has started the process of selling its business in Russia, another symbol of the country's increasing isolation over its war in Ukraine.
Canada seeing some baby formula shortages, but store brands, interim policy on other imports helping
A major infant formula recall by the U.S. manufacturer of Similac has exacerbated ongoing pandemic-related supply issues for some Canadian retailers, according to the Retail Council of Canada, while other stores have generally been able to keep shelves stocked, with any shortages mostly temporary.