Canadians Overwhelmingly Support Efforts to Reduce Government Waste, Arcus Survey Finds.

March 7, 2025 - A new national survey of 1,245 Canadians between March 3-5, 2025 reveals strong public demand for government efficiency reforms, with 65% supporting the creation of a dedicated agency to cut government waste and red tape. The findings suggest that a Doge-style government efficiency initiative (DOGE)-similar to efforts seen in the United States-could gain traction in Canada if framed as cutting bureaucracy rather than essential services.

Key Findings:

• 73.9% of Canadians believe the federal government is inefficient or only somewhat efficient.
• 65% support creating an independent agency focused on cutting government waste.
• The most preferred approach is to reduce bureaucracy (40%), while only 19% support job cuts.
• 45% of Canadians would accept some job or service cuts for greater efficiency, but 30% strongly oppose cuts.
• 50% believe in making government more efficient without reducing services, while only 25% favor a smaller government with fewer services.

Public Appetite for Efficiency, Not Austerity

"These results show that Canadians want a government that operates smarter, not necessarily smaller," said Merril Mascarenhas, Managing Partner at Arcus Consulting Group. "There is broad support for reforms that eliminate waste and red tape, but there's also caution against reckless cuts to public services."

A Political Opportunity?

With federal spending and bureaucracy at historic highs, policymakers may find these findings a strong mandate to implement efficiency-driven reforms. However, the data suggests that cutting government jobs outright would face opposition, making targeted solutions-such as reducing duplication, increasing oversight, and adopting better technology-more politically viable.

As Canada prepares for its next election cycle, leaders across the political spectrum may need to address public concerns about inefficiency. The survey suggests that a well-designed reform plan focused on smart cost-cutting could gain widespread support.

Arcus Consulting Group
18 King St E, Suite 1400,
Toronto, ON M5C 1C4, Canada
Tel: (416) 335-8000
www.arcusgroup.ca

Arcus Consulting Group is a leading market research and certified management consulting firm. Arcus specializes in assisting businesses, governments, and non-profit organizations to address challenges related to growth, organizational development, and operational efficiency. The firm's expertise spans multiple industries, including healthcare, automotive, consumer products, financial services, and retail. Arcus is committed to delivering tangible results by combining deep business expertise with innovative thinking.

This release was published on openPR.