Should the Canadian Public Service Worry about the Polarization in the Perceptions of Social Problems?

Abstract

This study analyzes the polarization of perceptions of social problems in Canada to assess if social issues polarization was an element of the environment (Hodgetts, 1964). We analyzed data from the Canadian Election Study collected between 1993 and 2021. We compare urban university‐educated and rural non‐university‐educated Canadians' opinions regarding their perceptions of certain social problems in Canada. Our results show that there are some disagreements between the two groups. However, the data and methods used do not allow us to confirm a trend towards polarization. Polarization over social problems is not yet shaping Canadian public administrations.