Release of the 8th Edition of the CIRANO Barometer on Risk Perception in Québec

On December 19, 2025, CIRANO released the 8th edition of its Barometer on Risk Perception in Québec. Based on a survey conducted since 2011 among approximately 1,000 respondents representative of the Québec population, the Barometer tracks changes in public perceptions, concerns and levels of trust related to major economic, social and financial issues.

The 2025 edition examines perceptions associated with 57 major issues and projects affecting Québec. The results point to a core set of concerns dominated by the cost of living, housing and the health care system. Despite a more moderate inflationary context, economic pressures continue to be strongly felt by the population.

The findings also reveal persistently low levels of trust in the government’s ability to manage key socioeconomic challenges. The issues perceived as most risky are also those for which trust is lowest, raising significant concerns regarding the social acceptability of public policies.

The 2025 Barometer further highlights growing social and geopolitical fractures. Concerns related to immigration, homelessness and international trade relations have increased markedly, reflecting a context of heightened polarization.

In addition, the study points to a more pragmatic stance toward natural resource development. In the face of economic uncertainty, a majority of Québecers express increased support for resource extraction—particularly mining—placing greater emphasis on economic benefits and financial security.

Finally, the edition underscores ongoing challenges related to misinformation, limited ability to identify disinformation, high levels of risk misperception and low economic literacy, all of which contribute to a more fragile public debate. The CIRANO Barometer 2025 thus provides essential insights into the perceptions and collective trade-offs shaping public opinion in Québec.

To read the full report, click here.

Ingrid Peignier presented the highlights of the Barometer on December 19 on the program Zone Économie with Gérald Fillion.

The Barometer data were also cited in an article by Stéphanie Bérubé published in La Presse on January 8, 2025, titled “Encore trop de bois dans le fromage déjà râpé.”

---

External Link https://cirano.qc.ca/en/news/1506