Three-in-Four Canadians Say Worst of COVID-19 is Now Behind Us

The satisfaction rating for the way provincial governments have managed the pandemic improved in Alberta and Quebec.

Vancouver, BC [May 24, 2022] – As a significant proportion of Canadians sense the end of the pandemic, positive views on the performance of various levels of government in managing COVID-19 have increased, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 76% of Canadians think the worst of COVID-19 is now “behind us”, up 14 points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in April.

Four-in-five residents of Alberta and Ontario (80%) believe that the pandemic is unlikely to worsen, along with 76% of Quebecers, 71% of residents of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and 70% of Atlantic Canadians.

More than three-in-four Canadians (78%, -4) consider COVID-19 as a real threat—including 81% of those aged 55 and over.

A survey released by Research Co. earlier this month showed that 45% of Canadians were “anxious” about the end of COVID-19 restrictions and mandates in their community.

More than three-in-five Canadians (61%, +4) are currently satisfied with the way the federal government has dealt with COVID-19.

Sizeable majorities of Canadians who voted for the Liberal Party (83%) and the New Democratic Party (NDP) (71%) in the 2021 Canadian federal election are happy with how Ottawa has managed the pandemic. The proportion is lower among those who voted for the Conservative Party last year (42%).

This month, the satisfaction rating also improved for provincial governments (63%, +6) and municipal administrations (65%, +5).

In the four most populous provinces, the level of satisfaction is highest in Quebec (67%, +8), followed by Ontario (65%, +4), British Columbia (62%, +1) and Alberta (53%, +16).

The satisfaction rating also rose across Canada for the federal chief public health officer (66%, +5) and for provincial health officers or chief medical officers (66%, +6).

“The numbers are remarkably consistent when Canadians rate the way their provincial health officers or chief medical officers are dealing with COVID-19,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Ontario is at the top of the list among the four most populous provinces at 67%, followed by Quebec with 66%, Alberta with 65% and British Columbia with 63%.”

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 14 to May 16, 2022, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here. 

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490 [e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca