Trust in public institutions is the cornerstone of effective governance in any country.

In Canada, that cornerstone appears to be eroding.

In 2015, fewer Canadians trusted their government (less than 50%) than Russians (54%), Indians (82%) and Indonesians (72%).

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Source: 2015 Trust Barometer, Edelman

What? Russians, Indonesians and Indians trust their government more than Canadians trust theirs? Wow.

While the high levels of trust in these countries is surprising, it is striking to see that Russia and India each experienced a 30 per cent spike in trust in just one year. What explains this odd discrepancy?  Are Canadians increasingly cynical? Or should Prime Minister Justin Trudeau adopt Vladimir Putin’s aggressive nationalism to restore our confidence.

Before we jump to conclusions, let’s look at the effect a change of government has.

Trust in public institutions is often linked to leadership, so it makes sense that a change in political leadership could lead to rising trust in government. Look at India, for example. The election of the Narendra Modi government seems to explain India’s rising trust in government. Trust reached 82 per cent – up from 53 – with renewed hopes of prosperity and economic growth.

Canada looks to be having a similar experience. The 2016 trust barometer (conducted after the federal election and driven by the ‘informed public rather than the ‘general public’) saw a sharp increase in trust across the board in Canada. Canadians’ trust increased in government (up 16 per cent to 65 per cent), NGOs (up 4 per cent to 61 per cent) and business (up 13 per cent to 60 per cent).

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Source: 2016 Trust Barometer, Edelman

Global PR Firm Edelman suggested that Trudeau’s charm at the Davos summit may have played a role in re-establishing Canada as an international force.  The Trudeau effect seems to have improved our international reputation and increased Canadians’ trust in the government (65 per cent).

Yet personality-led improvements tend to wax and wane. Is there a way to rebuild a lasting trust in our public institutions? According to Edelman, integrity and engagement are most important when trying to rebuild trust. Excellence in products and operations are also important but almost expected.

That Canada’s federal government is prioritizing integrity and engagement is a great start. Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr, for example, recently announced that pipelines will face a new environmental process and the government will undertake greater public, and indigenous consultations on projects, outside the National Energy Board process.

Trudeau is trying to inject integrity into the debate by being “a responsible referee” and ensuring that the process takes into account the views and concerns of Canadians as well as respecting the rights and interests of indigenous peoples. This seems to be the right instinct.

Integrity, however, has to do with more than just process. It is also linked to the belief that a government will do what it promises to do.

By that measure, there are a few troubling signs. Our new federal government is already late, or has missed, several key election promises. These include getting 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of 2015, implementing imported gun marking regulations and the revenue-neutral middle class tax cut.

With a sputtering economy and an ambitious agenda, substance is of the essence. More promises bring more opportunities to disappoint. Nothing calls into question the government’s integrity more than broken promises.

The federal government’s new era of environmental responsibility and public consultation has the potential to rebuild trust in public institutions and break the national deadlock over pipeline approval processes, if done right. But that’s a big ‘if.’ Further, if this new process does not deliver improved public trust, it will simply layer on cost and increase uncertainty while sending investors the signal to take their money elsewhere.

Shafak Sajid is a policy analyst

This is the latest in a series of blogs the Canada West Foundation is writing exploring issues surrounding Canada’s regulatory system and restoring public trust.