A new study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds one-in-three (33 per cent) view Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre favourably, while more than half (54 per cent) hold a negative view. The level of unfavourable sentiment is much higher than those of previous leaders Andrew Scheer, Erin O’Toole, and Stephen Harper at the beginning of their leadership of the party.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, has seen a five-point boost in his approval compared to surveys conducted in the summer. He’s viewed positively by more than two-in-five (43 per cent).

There is also an emerging gender divide: Poilievre’s favourability is nearly twice as high among men at 44 per cent, as women at 23 per cent. The inverse, though not as pronounced, is true of Trudeau where he has 35 per cent approval among men and 50 per cent among women.

Canadians head into a new year focused on crumbling health care infrastructure and overwhelming cost of living concerns. These two issues rank atop the list of priorities for every region of the country.

More than half in Alberta, at 53 per cent and 57 per cent in Saskatchewan view Poilievre favourably, the only two provinces where that’s the case. Quebecers hold the most unfavourable views, with two-thirds at 64 per cent saying they have negative impressions of Poilievre.