Abortion Rights in Canada

May 17, 2024

From May 10 to May 12, 2024, we surveyed Canadians to find out their opinions and perceptions on abortion rights and how the situation in the United States could affect theirs in Canada.

Some of the key highlights of our survey on abortion rights include…

  • A majority of Canadians (80%) are in favour of a woman’s right to an abortion if she so chooses, while around one in ten (11%) are opposed, and 9% don’t know where they stand on the matter. Women and Canadians 55 years of age or more are more likely to be in favour of the women’s right to choose (respectively 84%).
  • Half of Canadians (49%) think the situation in the United States with regards to the right to an abortion will have an impact here in Canada, while around three in ten Canadians (31%) think it will not. Men (35%), people 55 years of age or older (35%), and Quebecers (37%) are more likely to think the situation with regard to the right to abortion in the United States will not have an impact here in Canada.
  • Roughly one in four Canadians (27%) think that Justin Trudeau’s political party is the most committed to protecting abortion rights, while close to one in three (32%) think that Pierre Poilievre’s party is the least committed to protecting those same rights.
  • One in four Canadians (25%) would support their province using the “notwithstanding clause” to ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools in their province. This represents a significant decrease of 12 percentage points compared to the results obtained in October 2023.

Methodology

This web survey was conducted from May 10 to 12, 2024, with 1,545 Canadians aged 18 or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey. For comparison, a probability sample of 1,545 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.5 %, 19 times out of 20.

Related Posts

U.S. Midterms 2026: What Do the Results Mean for Canada?

The 2026 U.S. midterm elections have captured the attention of Canadians, with many viewing the outcome positively for Canada's interests. According to our latest survey, conducted from November 6 to 9, 2026, Canadians are largely satisfied with the election results...

BC Election 2026: From Election Results to Government Priorities

Following the October 24 provincial election, which saw the Conservatives secure a majority government, British Columbians are reflecting on what shaped the result and what they expect from their new government. According to our latest post-election survey, the NDP's...

2026 U.S. Midterms

With the U.S. midterm elections approaching on November 3, 2026, our latest survey examines Americans' voting intentions, confidence in the electoral process and views of President Donald Trump's job performance. Conducted from October 23 to 25, 2026, the survey...

Halloween 2026: Canadians Aren’t Too Old for a Little Fright

Halloween isn't something everyone truly outgrows. Our latest survey shows that while family traditions remain a big part of the holiday, younger adults are finding their own ways to celebrate. Participation also varies across the country, and not everyone considers...

2026 U.S. Midterms

2026 U.S. Midterms

With the U.S. midterm elections approaching on November 3, 2026, our latest survey...

Get the latest in your inbox

Stay up to date on cutting-edge research, news and more.