Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government focusing on housing affordability during the summer, exclusive polling data suggests that the Liberals still trail behind the Conservatives and the New Democrats in terms of public trust on this issue.

According to a survey conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News Channel’s Power Play with Vassy Kapelos, when it comes to addressing the soaring costs of housing, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives and Jagmeet Singh’s NDP are the most trusted federal parties.

Here’s how respondents ranked their trust in federal parties on housing affordability:

• 25 percent trusted the Conservatives.
• 22 percent trusted the New Democrats.
• 22 percent didn’t trust any federal party.
• 15 percent trusted the Liberals.

Additionally, seven percent of respondents were unsure which party they trusted the most, four percent trusted the Bloc Quebecois, three percent the Greens, and two percent the People’s Party of Canada.

Nik Nanos, in an interview on the Vassy Kapelos Show, highlighted that these numbers pose a challenge for Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. Despite their increased focus on affordability, it appears that the more they talk about the issue, the less trust they gain.

Housing Minister Sean Fraser responded to the poll by emphasizing the need for the federal government to take a leadership role in addressing housing affordability, promising new measures to be announced in the coming months.

With a third of respondents expressing either no trust in any party or uncertainty, Nanos suggests that there is room for all parties, including the Liberals, to improve their standings by presenting effective housing strategies that resonate with Canadians.

Trust in the Conservatives regarding housing affordability was particularly high in the Prairies and Atlantic Canada, while Ontarians, Quebecers, and British Columbians leaned more towards trusting the New Democrats.

Nanos also observed that these results reflect dissatisfaction with the Liberals’ efforts on housing, possibly influencing some of Trudeau’s decisions this summer.

Despite the government’s reshuffling and efforts to frame their agenda around affordability, including homeownership, the poll suggests that more work is needed to gain the trust of Canadians on this critical issue.

As the House of Commons resumes in September, housing remains a prominent political topic. The NDP advocates for an additional $500 Canada Housing Benefit payment, while the Conservatives call for a plan to increase housing supply and lower prices.

Housing Minister Fraser plans to unveil new measures ahead of the fall economic update, emphasizing that waiting for an artificial date is unnecessary.

While recent polling data shows a narrowing gap between the Liberals and Conservatives, with the latter slightly ahead, Nanos suggests that Canadians may be ready for change but are uncertain about granting a Conservative majority government.

This weekend’s Conservative policy convention could play a pivotal role in determining whether Canadians view the party as a viable government-in-waiting.