Trend Line

In our final episode of 2022, pollster Nik Nanos and host Michael Stittle discuss the  major federal parties – what moved the needle for them this year, and what do they have to look forward to in the New Year? 

Trend Line will return in the New Year on January 18. 

After weeks of 'Freedom Convoy' organizers airing their views at the Emergencies Act inquiry, how did the headlines impact ballot support for the Liberals and Conservatives, in light of Justin Trudeau's appearance before the inquiry and Pierre Poilievre being an early supporter of the protests?

Pollster Nik Nanos and Trend Line host Michael Stittle also discuss the now double leadership team helming the Green Party, and what they have to do to build support  among Canadian voters.

We then head West, where Premier Danielle Smith has been busy, launching a new bill in an attempt to shield Alberta from federal laws, and banning any future mask mandates in schools.

Finally, in our issues tracking segment, we take the pulse on where the state of health care ranks with Canadians right now.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping met briefly on the sidelines of the G20 summit, a meeting which could hardly be described as cordial. Nanos Research Chair Nik Nanos and Trend Line host Michael Stittle discuss the tense exchange and the body language -- which spoke  volumes -- between the two leaders.

From chilly relations abroad to frosty relations at home -- the federal government and some of the provinces just can't seem to get along, with the recent failure of Canada's health ministers to reach a deal on health care. In Ontario, Nik discusses how the provincial government took a big hit in public opinion after Premier Doug Ford dropped the "legislative hammer" on education workers, before ultimately lifting it again. And this hit in public opinion, by the way, had federal repercussions as well on Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives.

Finally, Nik and Michael discuss what Canada's federal parties can learn from the U.S., where Democrats managed to keep control of the Senate in last week's midterm elections.

Nanos Research asks Canadians a very simple question on the regular: are your personal finances worse, better or the same?  You probably know the answer, but pollster Nik Nanos explains how the most recent response to his survey broke a 14-year record. And not in a good way.

Nik and host Michael Stittle also discuss the continuing reverberations from the "Freedom Convoy" protests as the national inquiry into the government's use of the Emergencies Act continues.  And how a seemingly no-win situation for the Liberals in their handling of inflation and cost of living has been like "Christmas" for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

Finally, it's less than a week before the consequential U.S. midterm elections. Nik breaks down a couple key races, and explains why American polling sometimes gets it wrong in places like Nevada.

Nanos Research asks Canadians every week who they prefer as prime minister of the country. Right now, Pierre Poilievre and Justin Trudeau are neck and neck. Pollster Nik Nanos breaks down why, and dives deeper into what qualities both leaders have that appeal to Canadians.  (The result, as Nik puts it, is 'ugh'.)

Nik and CTVNews.ca's Michael Stittle also discuss the growing movement against the federation with Danielle Smith's recent victory in Alberta. And we're revealing the results of a new Nanos survey showing a large number of Canadians would still wear masks on planes and trains, even if travel restrictions are now loosened.

With a majority win for Francois Legault's CAQ in Quebec and one for Doug Ford's PCs earlier this year, that's two of Canada's most populous provinces where provincial Liberals have been steamrolled.  Pollster Nik Nanos and CTVNews.ca's Michael Stittle discuss what this could mean for the federation. 

You don't want to miss Nik's latest seat projections, which show Conservative support is strengthening in key battlegrounds and which ridings that were awash in Liberal red in the last election are now too close to call.

And it's been 5 years since Jagmeet Singh became leader of the NDP. Nik looks at where he and the party are now compared to back then when it comes to his party's brand, and what Canadians think of his leadership. 

Correction: Seat-count projections show the Green Party winning two ridings, and 57 ridings are too close to call.

We're back from summer break, and pollster Nik Nanos and host Michael Stittle discuss Pierre Poilievre's question period debut in the House of Commons and the image he's trying to portray. Nik also breaks down the latest ballot numbers with the leading Conservatives and resurgent NDP putting the squeeze on the Liberals.

Conservatives are ‘in the driver’s seat’ with a five percentage-point lead over the Liberals in the latest ballot tracking from Nanos Research.

Pollster Nik Nanos and CTVNews.ca's Michael Stittle discuss what’s driving the Liberals’ sinking numbers.

Also, in Quebec, Premier Francois Legault has made waves with his controversial Bill 96, with a provincial election on the horizon.

Finally, the U.S. midterms are approaching – could the Democrats lose control of one or both houses?

We're taking a summer break, but we'll be back in August.

You might have missed it but the prime minister this week gave an emphatic 'no' to the question of whether he'd fulfill a promise to replace our first past the post electoral system with proportional representation. So what does he want instead? 

Pollster Nik Nanos and host Michael Stittle get into that. Also, why is Leslyn Lewis one to keep a close eye on in the Conservative leadership race?

We also take a close look at Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Ontario Premier Doug: a study in contrasts that conservatives really should be paying attention to. Speaking of Alberta, tune in to find out how close the numbers are between the NDP and the UCP in the province.  And check out Nik's prediction on what will happen on the day after the Conservative leadership's decided -- no matter who wins.

We have a special episode of Trend Line focusing on the fallout from the Ontario provincial election.

Nik Nanos' numbers for CTV News and CP24 leading up to the eleciton were spot on, capturing that Ford's PCs were on their way to a convincing majority.

If you're a federal political party, what do you take away from Ford's victory? Nik and host Michael Stittle discuss that and more on this episode.