As another summer begins, Canadians are paying closer attention to the link between extreme weather and local water use. Our latest survey on attitudes toward extreme weather events and water restrictions finds that many Canadians believe wildfires, extreme heat, and sudden temperature swings are becoming more frequent, and that most continue to support water conservation measures in their area.
The results continue a trend observed in our surveys done last fall on Canadians’ perceptions towards extreme weather events, where Canadians were already reporting more wildfires, poor air quality, and temperature swings.
Key Highlights
- 65% of Canadians say forest fires and wildfires are more frequent than five years ago.
- 61% say the same about wide temperature variations within the same season and extreme heat.
- 30% say they were personally impacted by an extreme weather event in the past 12 months, up 7 points since June 2025.
- 66% support water restrictions in their area.
- 82% agree that water conservation is important, even in water-rich regions.
Extreme Weather Is Becoming a More Personal Issue for Canadians
Canadians are most likely to say that wildfires, extreme heat, and wide seasonal temperature swings have increased over the past five years, aligning with broader evidence that Canada’s climate is already changing in measurable ways, as documented in Canada’s Changing Climate Report. Looking ahead, 59% expect extreme weather events to happen more often in the future. However, concern about personally experiencing increasingly hot summers and more heat waves has declined sharply compared to last year, suggesting a gap between Canadians’ broader expectations about extreme weather and their sense of personal risk.
The impacts are already concrete for many. Among Canadians who were personally affected by an extreme weather event in the past year, the most common impacts were being forced to stay indoors because of air quality concerns (59%), experiencing emotional stress over extreme weather (34%), and having to postpone or cancel travel plans (21%).
Water Restrictions Draw Support, but the Rationale Still Matters
One-third of Canadians say there are water restrictions in their area, and overall support for these measures is strong. Canadians are most supportive of restrictions on non-essential uses, such as washing vehicles, watering residential lawns, washing driveways and sidewalks, and golf course irrigation. Support is lower when restrictions touch more practical or personal uses, such as watering vegetable gardens.
This support fits with a broader conservation mindset at a time when freshwater management is receiving growing public and policy attention in Canada, including through the Canada Water Agency. Still, opinions are more divided on whether current restrictions are justified and whether water shortages are caused more by infrastructure and planning issues than by a lack of water. This suggests that while Canadians support conservation in principle, municipalities and governments still need to clearly explain the rationale behind restrictions, including why they are needed, how they are applied, and what impact they are expected to have.
Methodology
This Leger survey was conducted online from June 12 to 15, 2026, among 1,512 Canadians aged 18 and older. Results were weighted by age, gender, mother tongue, region, education, and presence of children in the household to ensure a representative sample of the Canadian population. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error no greater than ±2.52%, 19 times out of 20.
