Our core mission is to generate, support, and showcase robust empirical and theoretical research that elucidates populism’s role in Canadian society. Rather than promote a singular agenda, the Observatory is a multi-disciplinary hub through which researchers, media, and the interested public can:,
- connect with experts on populism in Canada
- discover populism’s many meanings and dimensions
- learn from the most recent studies on Canadian populism through our database of populism literature and research briefs
- access real-time data on the nature and prevalence of populist ideas, discourses, and strategies in Canadian political life through our #X(Twitter)Meter.
The Observatory is connected to, and partially funded by, the York Research Chair in Populism, Rights, and Legality.
Our Latest Video
Populism is widely discussed but often misunderstood. This two-minute video offers a clear and simple definition of populism and addresses its main misconceptions.
Latest
"A Right-Wing Populist Turn in the Conservative Party of Canada? Continuities and Ruptures under the Leadership of Pierre Poilievre (2022-2025)", by Efe Peker, Emily Laxer, and Rémi Vivès
"The Supply of, and Demand for, Expressions of Mistrust Among Canadian Federal MPs", by Rémi Vivès, Emily Laxer, and Efe Peker
and Democracy in Canadawith Emily Laxer (language: French)
"Canada, Still the Exception? Populist Communication Styles Among Canadian Federal Leaders on X (Twitter)," by Emily Laxer, Rémi Vivès, and Efe Peker
Séparés à la naissance, Poilievre et Trump ?, La Presse, April 2, 2025
Is Pierre Poilievre too 'in sync' with Donald Trump?, CBC, March 29, 2025
Canada's ruling Liberals move on from Trudeau with Trump boost, Reuters, March 6, 2025
"He's Just Like Justin": What Poilievre’s Portrayal of Liberal Leadership Rivals Reveals About the Populist Propagation of Crisis by Emily Laxer and Rémi Vivès, March 5, 2025