TORONTO — A new Leger poll suggests most Canadians do not view the federal New Democratic Party as relevant, highlighting a key challenge for the party as Avi Lewis begins his leadership.The Leger survey found that 42% of respondents believe the NDP is not relevant in Canada’s national political landscape, compared to 32% who say it remains relevant. Another 26% said they were unsure.The results were collected in the days leading up to Lewis’s leadership victory, in which he secured 56% support on the first ballot. The timing indicates that concerns about the party’s standing were already present before the leadership change.Breakdowns within the poll show differing views depending on political alignment. Among Conservative supporters, 17% said the NDP remains relevant, while 43% of Liberal voters said the party still plays a role nationally.The findings come as the broader federal political environment remains relatively stable. The poll reports that 48% of decided voters support the Liberal Party, compared to 34% for the Conservatives and 6% for the NDP..Public opinion of the federal government also remains positive overall. The survey found that 57% of Canadians are satisfied with the government’s performance, while 58% approve of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s performance to date.While those figures suggest continued Liberal strength, the data indicates that growth in support may be levelling off rather than increasing.For the NDP, the poll points to broader issues beyond leadership. Only about one-third of Canadians currently view the party as relevant, while a larger share do not, suggesting the party faces ongoing challenges in defining its role within the national political landscape.The online survey was conducted among 1,618 Canadians aged 18 and older. Results were weighted based on demographic factors including age, gender, region and education to reflect the population.
