Nearly one in four Canadians say they were directly impacted by extreme weather over the past year, according to a new Leger poll released amid what is shaping up to be Canada’s second-worst wildfire season on record. From heat waves to floods, fires, and tornadoes, 23 per cent of respondents reported experiencing personal disruption due to severe weather in the past 12 months.
Among those affected, almost two-thirds said they were forced to stay indoors due to poor air quality. Thirty-nine per cent reported emotional stress, while more than a quarter had to cancel or postpone travel plans. One in five respondents said their property sustained damage.
The poll, conducted online between June 13 and 15, surveyed 1,529 Canadians. While it cannot be assigned a margin of error, it reflects changing public sentiment compared to last year. In August 2024, 35 per cent of Canadians said they were impacted by extreme weather—a significantly higher figure, likely influenced by Canada’s worst wildfire season, which saw flames spread across nearly every province and dense smoke smothering towns and cities for days.
Experts suggest the timing of the survey plays a crucial role in how people perceive the frequency and threat of extreme weather. According to Andrew Enns, executive vice president at Leger, current events tend to shape public memory and influence whether Canadians connect specific weather patterns to broader climate change concerns.
So far this year, over 2,000 fires have scorched nearly 40,000 square kilometres of Canadian land, with Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba accounting for most of the damage. Despite this, the percentage of Canadians worried about a hot summer dropped from 70 per cent in August 2024 to 64 per cent this June. Still, concern remains high in British Columbia, where 74 per cent of residents express anxiety about heat waves. Natural Resources Canada is warning of an extreme fire risk in B.C.’s southern regions for July.
The poll also revealed a decline in general concern about climate change. While 63 per cent of Canadians said they were worried last August, that number has now fallen to 59 per cent. Interestingly, belief that there is still time to reverse climate change consequences rose slightly, from 48 per cent last year to 50 per cent this year.
Enns said the June survey serves as a baseline to track how Canadians’ views might shift through the summer, with another round of polling planned for season’s end. The data underscores the importance of immediacy in shaping public perception — people’s climate awareness often spikes in response to the crises they’re actively living through.