What can market research reveal about Canadians’ true thoughts on infrastructure? When making decisions about lengthy construction projects, taking the public temperature is vital. But sometimes, it’s hard to know which questions to ask. In this episode, Shormila speaks with Oksana Kishchuk, VP of Insights at Abacus Data, about how market research can reveal the Canadian mindset—and what that means for major programmes, public policy, and infrastructure delivery. 


After spending nearly a decade listening to Canadians across sectors, including resources, healthcare, education, and public affairs, Oksana is the ideal spokesperson for data collection: how it helps bridge the gab between decision-makers and voters by showing not only what people think, but why they think it. The conversation explores how the public’s priorities have shifted from the scarcity mindset of the pandemic to a present-day sense of precarity. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a lens, Oksana explains that most people are focused on financial security, rising costs, and instability in the wider world. 


The research suggests Canadians agree, in general, about the problems, even though the impacts of those problems vary across generations. Now, they’re looking to their leaders for solutions that will stabilize our national foundation. This context impacts public views on everything from defence and pipelines to healthcare, energy, and long-term infrastructure projects, and it opens a unique opportunity for leaders in both government and infrastructure: prove you are listening to Canadians, and Canadians will place their trust in the stability solutions you present.

Key Takeaways

  • How market research helps leaders understand not just what Canadians think, but why they think it;
  • What the voting public’s expectations of progress mean for governments and major project leaders;
  • Why Canadians may be more open than usual to long-term, nation-building solutions;
  • How public sentiment has changed around healthcare, defence, pipelines, and other major sectors;
  • Why we need timely stakeholder communication, not just expert assumptions.

Quote:

  • “It’s a really great moment…the public is actually aligned in what I would say is a fairly rare opportunity to create nation-building, big projects.” - Oksana Kishchuk

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:

Rss Apple Podcaster
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör Riccardo Cosentino, Shormila Chatterjee, and Evgenia Jilina. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Riccardo Cosentino, Shormila Chatterjee, and Evgenia Jilina och inte av, eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.