Lifestyle – Research Co.

Race Relations Improving for More than Two-in-Five Canadians

June 9, 2023June 8, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than three-in-five Canadians have witnessed behaviour on social media that they would consider racist.

Vancouver, BC [June 9, 2023] – The proportion of Canadians who believe race relations are on the mend has risen since 2021, even if specific groups recall being targeted by racist behaviour in particular settings, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 45% of Canadians believe race relations in Canada have improved over the past two years, up four points since a similar Research Co. survey conducted in July 2021.

More than a third of Canadians (37%, +1) think race relations have worsened over the past two years, while 18% (-4) are undecided.

Almost half of British Columbians (48%) believe race relations have degraded. The numbers are significantly lower in Ontario (40%), Alberta (36%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (35%), Quebec (33%) and Atlantic Canada (24%).

Majorities of Canadians whose ancestry is African (71%, +18), South Asian (57%, -1) and Southeast Asian (54%, +11) feel race relations are better now than in 2021. The proportions are lower among respondents of First Nations (48%, -5), European (41%, +7) and East Asian (40%, -1) origins.

More than two-in-five Canadians say they have personally endured racism on social media (47%, -2), on day-to-day social interactions (46%, -3) and at work (42%, +1).

Fewer Canadians have personally experienced racism at work (39%, -1), during interactions with police or law enforcement officers (33%, -2) or during interactions with the health care system (32%, =).

“Just under four-in-five Canadians of East Asian origins (78%) have experienced racism during day-to-say social interactions,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Canadians of First Nations descent are significantly more likely to have endured racism at work (59%) or when dealing with the police (also 59%).”

When asked about behaviour they have witnessed in Canada, there are increases in the number of Canadians who have been exposed to racism on social media (63%, +5), on day-to-day social interactions (58%, +5) and at school (50%, +3).

Fewer than half of Canadians report seeing racist behaviour at work (45%, +2), engaging with police and law enforcement officers (42%, =) and dealing with the health care system (41%, +5).

Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from May 19 to May 21, 2023, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. 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

Photo Credit: Kenny Louie

Metro Vancouverites Endorse Various Ideas to Curb Opioid Crisis

June 7, 2023June 6, 2023By Mario Canseco

Still, opioids are way behind public safety, housing and the economy on the list of priorities for municipal governments.

Vancouver, BC [June 7, 2023] – There is high public support in Metro Vancouver for specific actions that could be taken to deal with the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of Metro Vancouver residents, more than four-in-five respondents (81%) agree with promoting abstinence, rehabilitation and recovery.

Almost seven-in-ten Metro Vancouverites (69%) agree with regulating the drug supply to ensure that users do not die from tainted substances, while just over three-in-five (61%) are in favour of establishing tougher sentences for people charged and convicted of drug possession.

More than seven-in-ten Metro Vancouverites endorse both voluntary (77%) and mandatory (72%) treatment for individuals with substance use or addiction issues.

“Support for a properly regulated drug supply in Metro Vancouver is highest among residents aged 18-to-34 (77%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Majorities of those aged 35-to-54 (64%) and aged 55 and over (67%) are also in agreement.”

Respondents to this survey were provided with a list of six different priorities for their municipal government. More than two thirds of Metro Vancouverites want to focus primarily on either public safety (35%) or housing, homelessness and poverty (33%).

The rating as the most important priority is lower for the economy and jobs (17%), opioids (10%), municipal services (4%) and infrastructure (also 4%).

More than two-in-five Metro Vancouverites aged 35-to-54 (43%) and aged 55 and over (45%) placed opioids as their least important priority. The proportion is lower among those aged 18-to-34 (26%).

When asked why they think people use prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in their community, more than seven-in-ten Metro Vancouverites (71%) believe it is to escape or abandon reality, while more than half (56%) think this is done to numb physical pain.

About two-in-five Metro Vancouverites (39%) think prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs are used in their community for fun or to experiment—a proportion that rises to 47% among those aged 18-to-34.

More than half of Metro Vancouverites (55%) have encountered empty bottles or cans of alcoholic beverages on the street or in a park. About a third (33%) have also found used needles in public places, while 28% have come across pipes or other drug paraphernalia on the street or in a park.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 19 to May 21, 2023, among 600 adults in Metro Vancouver. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Metro Vancouver. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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

Photo Credit: Hisakazu Watanabe

British Columbians Displeased with Politicians on Opioid Crisis

June 2, 2023June 2, 2023By Mario Canseco

One-in-five of the province’s residents (20%) personally know someone who died after using opioid drugs.

Vancouver, BC [June 2, 2023] – Many British Columbians remain concerned about the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in their community, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 61% of British Columbians describe the situation as a “major problem”, down three points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in October 2018.

More than half of British Columbians (56%, +14) think Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian Federal Government have done a “bad” or “very bad” job coming up with solutions to deal with the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs.

Pluralities of British Columbians are also dissatisfied with how their Member of Parliament (48%, +17), Premier David Eby and the provincial government (45%), their mayors and councils (44%, +9), and their member of the Legislative Assembly (43%, +13) have handled this issue.

More than two thirds of British Columbians support three ideas to address the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in their community: creating more spaces for drug rehabilitation (81%, -9), launching more education and awareness campaigns about drug use (76%, -14) and reducing the prescription of opioids by medical professionals (69%, -9).

Most British Columbians are also in agreement on establishing safe supply programs where alternatives to opioids, can be prescribed by health professionals (63%) and setting up more harm reduction strategies, such as legal supervised injection sites (58%, -8). Fewer of the province’s residents are in favour of decriminalizing all drugs for personal use (40%, -5).

“More than half of British Columbians who voted for the BC Liberals in 2020 (55%) agree with safe supply programs,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The level of support is higher among those who cast ballots for the BC New Democratic Party (NDP) (68%) or the BC Green Party (73%) in the last provincial election.”

More than a third of British Columbians (36%) say they know someone in their community who has used prescription or non-prescription opioid drugs in the last year—including a friend or member of their extended family (17%), someone they know from work, school, neighbourhood or place of worship (13%) or a family or household member (12%).

One-in-five British Columbians (20%) personally know someone who died after using prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in their community—a proportion that rises to 27% in the Fraser Valley and to 25% in both Northern BC and Southern BC.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 17 to May 19, 2023, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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

Photo Credit: Andrew Raun

Majority of Canadians Report Living in a Noisier City or Town

May 29, 2023May 28, 2023By Mario Canseco

Unnecessary noise from vehicles, barking dogs and construction noises top the list of common nuisances for Canadians.

Vancouver, BC [May 29, 2023] – The proportion of Canadians who feel their city or town has become more strident has increased, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 54% of Canadians believe their city or town has become noisier over the past year, up five points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in August 2022.

More than three-in-five residents of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia (61% each) think their city or town is more strident now than in 2022. The proportions are lower in Quebec (50%), Atlantic Canada (45%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (44%).

A third of Canadians (32%, +2) say their home is noisier now than last year, while more than two-in-five (43%, +2) feel the same way about their street.

Over the past year, almost a third of Canadians (32%, -4) have been bothered by unnecessary noise from vehicles (such as motorcycles and cars revving up) while inside their homes. Only two other nuisances come close to this level: dogs barking (30%, +3) and construction-related noises (such as roofing, land clearing and heavy machinery) (29%, =).

More than one-in-five Canadians have been exposed to other noises a home, such as loud people outside (23%, -5), a car alarm (22%, -3), loud music playing inside a vehicle (also 22%, +1), loud music at a nearby home (21%, +3) and drivers honking the horn excessively (also 21%, +1).

Fewer Canadians report being bothered by yard work (such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers) (20%, -5), yelling or screaming at a nearby home (20% (+1), fireworks (also 20%, +2), power tools (such as electric saws and sanders) (19%, -2), a loud gathering or party at a nearby home (16%, -1), a home alarm (11%, +1) or cats meowing (7%, =).

Across the country, 16% of Canadians (+2) say they are wearing earplugs to mitigate noise while inside their home, while 11% (+4) have acquired hardware, such as noise cancelling headphones or earphones.

Fewer Canadians have reported noise concerns to the police (9%, +1) or moved away from their previous home because of noise (6%, +1).

“The proportion of Canadians who have not taken any action to deal with noise inside their home has fallen from 74% in 2022 to 67% in 2023,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to be wearing earplugs or acquiring special hardware to mitigate noise.”

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

Almost Three-in-Five British Columbians Say Crime is Rising

May 24, 2023May 23, 2023By Mario Canseco

The proportion of residents who have been the victims of a crime that merited a call to the police has been stable since 2018.

Vancouver, BC [May 24, 2023] – The proportion of British Columbians who hold negative perceptions about public safety has risen markedly, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 59% of British Columbians say the level of criminal activity in their community has increased in the past four years, up eight points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in July 2022.

Just under one-in-five British Columbians (18%, =) say they have been victims of a crime involving the police (such as an assault or a car break-in) in their community.

“The perceptions of British Columbians on criminal activity have worsened every year since we started asking these questions in 2018,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “During the same period, there has been little movement when residents of the province are asked if they were victims of a crime that merited a police report.”

When asked about which factors are to blame “a great deal” for the current situation regarding crime and public safety in their community, a majority of British Columbians mention addiction and mental health issues (59%, +8).

Other factors that British Columbians blame “a great deal” are gangs and the illegal drug trade (41%, +4), an inadequate court system (39%, +7), poverty and inequality (34%, +2), lack of values and improper education for youth (28%, +1), a bad economy and unemployment (22%, -2), insufficient policing and a lack of resources to combat crime (also 22%, =) and immigrants and minorities (11%, +3).

More than half of British Columbians (52%, +4) say they fear becoming victims of crime in their community “a great deal” or “a fair amount”—a proportion that rises to 72% among those aged 18-to-34.

More than a third of British Columbians (36%, +2) say they would feel “moderately unsafe” or “very unsafe” walking alone in their own neighbourhood after dark, including 47% in the Fraser Valley and 45% in Northern BC.

Support for establishing a provincewide police force in British Columbia is up significantly, going from 39% in June 2022 to 51% in May 2023.

More than half of residents of Northern BC (54%) and Metro Vancouver (also 54%) favour the creation of a provincewide police force. Support is lower in the Fraser Valley (49%), Vancouver Island (45%) and Southern BC (43%).

At least four-in-five British Columbians voice support for banning military-style assault weapons (82%, =) and handguns (80%, +5) in their municipality.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 14 to May 16, 2023, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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

Canada’s Moral Compass Steady on Humans, Tilting on Animals

May 19, 2023May 18, 2023By Mario Canseco

There is little change in perceptions on issues like contraception and pre-marital sex, but fewer find fur clothing acceptable.

Vancouver, BC [May 19, 2023] – More than half of Canadians have no moral reservations about specific issues related to human relations, a new Research Co. poll has found.

The online survey of a representative national sample asked Canadians whether they considered 21 different issues as “morally acceptable” or “morally wrong.”

More than seven-in-ten Canadians think contraception (75%, unchanged since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in May 2022) and divorce (71%, -2) are morally acceptable, and more than two thirds feel the same way about sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman (69%, =) and having a baby outside of marriage (also 69%, =).

More than half of Canadians consider four other issues as morally acceptable: physician-assisted death (58%, -3), sexual relations between two people of the same sex (57%, -2), medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos (55%, =), abortion (53%, -2) and gambling (52%, =).

“There is a sizeable gender gap when Canadians are asked about same-sex relations,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “While 65% of women find them morally acceptable, the proportion drops to 50% among men.”

Majorities of Canadians of East Asian (60%) and Indigenous origins (55%) believe abortion is morally acceptable. The proportions are lower among Canadians whose descent is European (46%) and South Asian (35%).

Just under a third of Canadians deem pornography (32%, +1) and prostitution (also 32%, +2) as morally acceptable. On each one of these issues, men are more likely to have no qualms (40%) than women (24%).

The most significant year-to-year fluctuation is observed on buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur. Three-in-ten Canadians (30%) think this is morally acceptable, down six points since 2022. Fewer Canadians think two other issues related to animal welfare are morally acceptable: medical testing on animals (22%, -3) and cloning animals (20%, +1).

Fewer than one-in-four Canadians think six other issues included in the survey are morally acceptable: polygamy (21%, +2), suicide (20%, +2), using illegal drugs (19%, +1), married men and/or women having an affair (18%, +2), cloning humans (11%, -1) and paedophilia (7%, +3).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 12 to May 14, 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

Young Canadians Willing to Pay More for Organic, Non-GMO Food

May 17, 2023May 17, 2023By Mario Canseco

About one-in-four Canadians frequently check labels to see if the products they buy are organic and non-GMO .

Vancouver, BC [May 17, 2023] – Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely than their older counterparts to consider paying a premium for produce and groceries that are organic or free from genetically modified organisms (GMO), a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 41% of Canadians say they would not pay more for organic food. The proportion rises to 57% among those aged 55 and over, but drops to 41% among those aged 35-to-54 and to 23% among those aged 18-to-34.

A similar scenario is observed on non-GMO food. Just over three-in-ten Canadians (31%) would not pay more for produce and groceries that offered this guarantee, including 38% of those aged 55 and over, 31% of those aged 35-to-54 and 22% of those aged 18-to-34.

More than a third of Canadians would not pay more for food from a company that guaranteed a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Once again, the country’s oldest adults are less likely to consider paying a premium (45%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (38%) and aged 18-to-34 (23%).

“More than two-in-five residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (42%), Atlantic Canada (41%) and Alberta (41%) would not be swayed by food producers guaranteeing lower greenhouse gas emissions than their competitors,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are lower in British Columbia (37%), Ontario (35%) and Quebec (28%).”

Almost four-in-five Canadians (79%) agree that climate change threatens the world’s food supply. More than seven-in-ten feel the food supply in Canada (76%) and their province (73%) is in danger because of climate change.

One third of Canadians (33%) claim to frequently check labels in the food they buy to review the country or province of origin. About one-in-four check food labels frequently to see if products are organic (24%) or non-GMO (23%).

More than three-in-five Canadians (61%) think the agriculture sector is “definitely” or “probably” taking action to reduce its environmental footprint. The rating is similar for the forestry sector (60%), and lower for two other industries: natural gas (47%) and mining (42%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 4 to May 6, 2023, 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

Most Canadians Jump on Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Bandwagon

May 12, 2023May 11, 2023By Mario Canseco

Toronto’s NHL franchise is the favourite team of 24% of Canadians, but 53% are rooting for them in this year’s playoffs.

Vancouver, BC [May 12, 2023] – More than half of Canadians are supporting the Toronto Maple Leafs in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, while more than one-in-four are siding with the Edmonton Oilers, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 53% of Canadians are currently rooting for the Maple Leafs, while 26% are choosing the Oilers. The remaining six National Hockey League (NHL) teams in contention—the Seattle Kraken, the Florida Panthers, the New Jersey Devils, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the Dallas Stars and the Carolina Hurricanes—are in single digits.

“Residents of Ontario (79%) and Atlantic Canada (70%) are clearly with the Maple Leafs right now,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Two thirds of Albertans (67%) are behind the Oilers.”

Fewer than half of Quebecers (47%) and British Columbians (40%) are rooting for the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are more likely to pick the Oilers (47%).

Canadians who are not supporting either of the two domestic franchises in the Stanley Cups playoffs were asked why they have chosen other teams to root for. One third (33%) say they just don’t like the Maple Leafs, while fewer said they have a favourite NHL team and will not root for any other (23%), dislike the Oilers (22%) or just don’t know much about hockey (20%).

When Canadians are asked about their favourite NHL team, 24% select the Maple Leafs while 22% choose the Montreal Canadiens. The fan base is smaller for the Vancouver Canucks (10%), the Edmonton Oilers (8%), the Winnipeg Jets (5%), the Calgary Flames (4%) and the Ottawa Senators (4%).

One-in-four Canadians (24%) do not have a favourite NHL team and almost half (47%) do not have a team they hate the most. The most loathed franchises are the Maple Leafs (17%, and 25% in Quebec) and the Canadiens (10%, and 27% in British Columbia).

More than two thirds of Canadians have favourable views of three former and current NHL stars: Wayne Gretzky (76%), Sidney Crosby (71%) and Mario Lemieux (67%). The rating is lower for Ken Dryden (53%), Connor McDavid (51%) and John Tavares (47%).

Former broadcaster Don Cherry is seen favourably by 45% of Canadians—a proportion that rises to 49% among both men and Canadians aged 55 and over.

Find our data tables here and 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

Most Canadians Back Status Quo on Medical Assistance in Dying

May 5, 2023May 4, 2023By Mario Canseco

Views are more nuanced on expanding the guidelines beyond “grievous and irremediable” medical conditions.

Vancouver, BC [May 5, 2023] – More than seven-in-ten Canadians believe the country has the right policies in place to allow people to seek medical assistance in dying, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 73% of Canadians (down three points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in January 2021) are in favour of the practice under the current federal guidelines:

Being eligible for health services funded by the federal government, or a province or territory (or during the applicable minimum period of residence or waiting period for eligibility).
Being at least 18 years old and mentally competent.
Having a grievous and irremediable medical condition.
Making a voluntary request for medical assistance in dying that is not the result of outside pressure or influence.
Giving informed consent to receive medical assistance in dying.

Compared to January 2021, there is little movement when Canadians are asked about their personal feelings on this issue. Almost three-in-five (58%, =) think medical assistance in dying should be allowed, but only under specific circumstances.

One-in-five Canadians (20%, =) believe medical assistance in dying should always be allowed, regardless of who requests it, while 12% (+1) believe it should never be permitted.

In Alberta, almost one-in-five residents (19%) would prefer to ban medical assistance in dying. In Atlantic Canada, almost three-in-ten residents (28%) think the practice should be available to anyone.

Almost half of Canadians (48%, +5) are satisfied with the regulations that are currently in place in the country to manage the issue of medical assistance in dying, while 27% (+1) are dissatisfied and 25% (-6) are undecided.

Satisfaction with the existing guidelines related to medical assistance in dying is highest in Quebec (53%), followed by British Columbia (52%), Ontario (46%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 46%), Atlantic Canada (44%) and Alberta (40%).

At this point, only an adult with a grievous and irremediable medical condition can seek medical assistance in dying in Canada. Respondents were asked if people should be able to seek medical assistance in dying because of five different reasons.

Half of Canadians would agree to allow adults in Canada to seek medical assistance in dying due to an inability to receive medical treatment (51%) or a disability (50%). Fewer than three-in-ten would consent to expand the guidelines to include homelessness (28%) or poverty (27%) as reasons to seek medical assistance in dying.

Canadians are split when pondering if mental illness should be a justification for an adult to seek medical assistance in dying: 43% support this idea, while 45% are opposed. The federal government has delayed a final decision for eligibility related to mental illness until March 2024.

Just over two-in-five Canadians (42%) think people who help a person to commit suicide should be prosecuted, while just over a third (34%) disagree and 23% are undecided.

“More than half of Canadians aged 18-to-34 (52%) think counselling a person to end their lives should continue to be a crime,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Fewer Canadians aged 35-to-54 (41%) and aged 55 and over (34%) hold the same view.”

When asked about the appropriate punishment for a parent who is found guilty of assisting a terminally ill son or daughter to die, one-in-four Canadians (24%) select no penalty at all.

Fewer than one-in-ten Canadians (8%) believe this action warrants a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, while 29% would consent to a prison sentence at the discretion of a judge, and 14% would deal with it through a fine, but no time in prison.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from April 22 to April 24, 2023, 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

Fun and No Boss Motivate Canada’s Prospective Entrepreneurs

April 26, 2023April 25, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than a third of Canadians who have considered starting a new business say not having enough savings holds them back.

Vancouver, BC [April 26, 2023] – Canadians who have thought about entrepreneurship are primarily moved by the promise of doing something they enjoy and not having to report to anyone, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 44% of Canadians say they have considered starting or operating a business of their own.

Canadians aged 18-to-34 are significantly more likely to have pondered entrepreneurship (54%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (47%) and aged 55 and over (28%).

Canada’s prospective entrepreneurs are looking at a wide range of industries for their new businesses, including hospitality and food (13%), technology (10%), finance and business services (also 10%), entertainment and recreation (8%) and arts and fashion (also 8%).

When asked about their motivations for starting a new business, more than half of Canada’s prospective entrepreneurs mention doing something they enjoy (53%) and being their own boss and not reporting to anyone (52%).

More than a third of Canada’s prospective entrepreneurs also envision earning more than they currently do (40%) and having flexibility and work-life balance (35%). Fewer are motivated by a sense of adventure (23%), providing a new service or creating something new (18%) and managing and mentoring others (6%).

“Almost two-in-five Canadian women who are considering entrepreneurship (39%) are encouraged by flexibility and a better work-life balance,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “More than two-in-five men who have considered starting or operating a business of their own (43%) see themselves making more money than now.”

When asked what is holding them back from starting a new business, almost two-in-five of Canada’s prospective entrepreneurs (38%) say they do not have enough savings.

More than a quarter of Canadians who have considered starting or operating a business of their own are worried about the risks involved (33%) and their lack of experience (28%). Fewer are held back because they are happy with their current job situation (20%), not knowing if the service or product is viable (also 20%), not knowing how to get started (also 20%), difficulties to secure proper financing (18%), dealing with too much regulation and bureaucracy (also 18%) and lacking the time to develop and implement a plan (15%).

Canada’s prospective entrepreneurs aged 18-to-34 are more likely to say that they are held back due to complications to secure financial backing (25%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (19%) and aged 55 and over (11%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from March 10 to March 20, 2023, among 2,000 Canadian adults, including 883 who have considered starting or opening a business of their own. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 2.2 percentage points for the entire sample and +/- 3.3 percentage points for the sample of prospective entrepreneurs, 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

Canadians Split on Whether the Justice System is Fair for Everyone

April 19, 2023April 18, 2023By Mario Canseco

A majority (56%) believe criminal courts do a good job in determining whether or not an accused person is guilty.

Vancouver, BC [April 19, 2023] – A significant proportion of Canadians question the impartiality of the country’s justice system, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 45% of Canadians agree that the justice system in Canada treats every person fairly, while 43% disagree and 12% are undecided.

Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to think that the justice system is fair for everyone (51%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (46%) and aged 55 and over (38%).

A majority of Canadians (56%) believe Canada’s criminal courts do a good job in determining whether or not an accused person is guilty.

More than a third of Canadians (37%) believe Canada’s prison system does a good job in helping prisoners become law-abiding.

Respondents to this survey were asked about the use of alternative penalties—such as fines, probation or community service—rather than prison for specific offences.

More than two-in-five Canadians support relying on alternative penalties for cases of credit card fraud (46%) and online harassment or cyberbullying (45%). Fewer believe fines, probation or community service are warranted when dealing with people convicted of drunk driving (38%) and arson (25%).

Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (53%) and Quebec (48%) are the most supportive of the alternative penalty approach for online harassment. The proportions drop to 44% in both Alberta and Ontario and to 39% in both British Columbia and Atlantic Canada.

“There is a gender divide when Canadians assess alternative penalties instead of prison for drunk drivers,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Men are more likely to endorse fines, probation or community service (42%) than women (33%).”

The survey also queried Canadians about the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which governs the application of criminal and correctional law to people who have committed an offence between the ages of 12 and 18.

At least two thirds of Canadians agree with three elements of the Youth Criminal Justice Act: allowing non-violent, first-time offenders who are unlikely to re-offend to avoid trial in youth justice court by taking part in programs of extrajudicial sanctions (69%), having the possibility of finding parents in contempt of court if they do not attend hearings or participate in the legal process (also 69%) and disclosing the identity of the youths who have been charged only under special circumstances (67%).

Fewer than half of Canadians (48%) are in favour of the provision establishing that no person can be convicted of an offence while he or she is under the age of 12 years.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from April 7 to April 9, 2023, 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

By a 3-to-1 Margin, Canadians Choose Evolution Over Creationism

April 14, 2023April 13, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than two-in-five Canadians (43%) think creationism should be part of the school curriculum in their province.

Vancouver, BC [April 14, 2023] – More than three-in-five Canadians side with evolution when asked about the origin and development of human beings on earth, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 63% of Canadians think human beings evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years, down two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in March 2022.

Just over one-in-five Canadians (21%, +3) believe God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years, while 16% (-2) are not sure.

Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to endorse evolution (71%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (63%) and aged 55 and over (61%).

More than a quarter of Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in the 2021 federal election (28%) think God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years. Fewer Canadians who cast a ballot for the Liberal Party (21%) or the New Democratic Party (NDP) (12%) feel the same way.

Consensus is not as clear when Canadians ponder whether creationism—the belief that the universe and life originated from specific acts of divine creation—should be part of the school curriculum in their province.

This year, 43% of Canadians (+5) believe there is a place for creationism in the classroom, while 38% (-4) disagree and 19% (-2) are undecided.

“Over the past three years, the numbers have fluctuated wildly on the question of discussing creationism at school,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Support peaked at 44% in 2021, fell to 38% in 2022, and has now jumped to 43% in 2023.”

Just under half of Ontarians (47%, +3) and Atlantic Canadians (46%, +15) are in favor of teaching creationism in schools. The proportions are lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (41%, +4), Alberta (40%, +9) and British Columbia (39%, +11).

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

Many Full Time Employees in Canada Are Stressed and Fatigued

April 12, 2023April 13, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than two-in-five have had to work through lunch to finish a project or task in the past year.

Vancouver, BC [April 12, 2023] – Many full time workers in Canada experience a variety of ailments when the day is done, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of Canadians who are currently employed full time, 49% of respondents say they feel fatigued at the end of a regular workday.

At least three-in-ten full time employees in Canada experience back pain (36%), trouble sleeping (33%) or stressed-out eyes (30%) on weekday nights. Fewer also endure headaches (28%) or neck pain (also 28%) at the end of a regular weekday.

Just under two thirds of full time employees in Canada (64%) describe their position as “very stressful” or “moderately stressful”.

More than two-in-five full time employees in Canada (44%) say they had to work through lunch to finish a project or task in the past year, while at least a third were asked to take on more responsibilities without a raise (35%) or felt depressed because of work (33%).

“Female full time employees in Canada are more likely to report having to do more at their workplace without the benefit of a larger paycheque (44%) than their male counterparts (27%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Women are also more likely to feel dejected by work (41%) than men (25%).”

Fewer full time employees in Canada say they had to work on a project or task on a weekend or holiday (29%), had to work on a project or task after hours from home (28%) or postponed vacation due to work obligations (20%) in the past year,

Just over two thirds of full time employees in Canada (68%) think the company they work for appreciates the effort they put into their job and just over three-in-five (61%) think their employer cares for their health and well-being.

While 55% of full time employees in Canada believe the company they work for pays them what they deserve, 41% disagree with this assessment.

Women (49%), full time employees aged 35-to-54 (45%), Ontarians (also 45%) and those in the middle income bracket (46%) are more likely to believe that they are not getting paid what they deserve.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from March 10 to March 20, 2023, among 895 Canadian adults who are currently employed full time (at least 30 hours a week). The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.3 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

Few Canadians Say They Are Always Frank with Family and Friends

April 5, 2023April 4, 2023By Mario Canseco

While 66% of Canadians claim to never lie to their children, only 52% say they are always truthful when talking with their parents.

Vancouver, BC [April 5, 2023] – Many Canadians acknowledge being loose with the truth when dealing with family members, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 66% of parents in Canada say they never lie to their children over the course of an average week.

Just over three-in-five fathers in Canada (61%) claim to always tell the truth when chatting with their offspring, compared to 45% among mothers.

More than half of Canadians who have parents (52%) say they never lie to their mother or father—a proportion that falls to 36% among those aged 18-to-34.

“Canada’s youngest adults are not particularly truthful when talking to their mons or dads,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “While 15% of sons and daughters aged 18-to-34 say they lie to their parents all or most of the time, the proportion drops to 7% among those aged 35-to-54.”

More than three-in-five Canadians who are in a relationship (64%) say they never lie to their wife, husband, girlfriend or boyfriend—including 72% of those aged 55 and over.

Fewer Canadians say they are always truthful to people on social media (62%) or to friends (60%).

Two thirds of employed Canadians (66%) say they never lie to their clients or customers, while fewer say they are always truthful when dealing with their boss (62%) or their co-workers (57%).

The proportion of employed Canadians who never lie to their boss is highest in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (69%) and lowest in British Columbia (57%).

Respondents to this survey were also asked how truthful they think people employed in 16 different professions are. More than a third (35%) believe federal politicians lie all of the time. The numbers are slightly lower for provincial politicians (31%) and municipal politicians (28%).

Almost one-in-four Canadians (23%) think lobbyists are never truthful. Slightly fewer feel the same way about religious leaders (21%), advertisers (20%), lawyers (18%), business executives (17%), real estate agents (16%) and union leaders (also 16%).

Fewer Canadians believe people involved in six other professions lie all the time: television journalists (15%), online journalists (also 15%), print journalists (14%), radio journalists (also 14%), building contractors (also 14%) and pollsters (13%).

This is the last of three releases exploring the relationship of Canadians with the truth. Read the first release and the second release.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from March 10 to March 12, 2023, among 1,000 Canadian adults. 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

Most Canadians Oblivious to the “15-Minute City” Concept

March 31, 2023March 30, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than three-in-five Canadians like what they have learned about the urban planning concept.

Vancouver, BC [March 31, 2023] – Only a third of Canadians are aware of the “15-minute city” concept that has been implemented in some municipalities around the world, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 33% of Canadians had heard about the “15-minute city”, while 57% had not and 9% were not sure.

The “15-minute city” is an urban planning concept in which daily necessities and services—such as work, shopping, education, health care and entertainment—can be reached through a 15-minute walk or bike ride from any point in the city.

“Awareness of the 15-minute city concept is highest in Alberta (41%), where the City of Edmonton has discussed the matter prominently in recent weeks,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion of informed residents is lower in British Columbia (37%), Ontario (36%), Quebec (32%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (29%) and Atlantic Canada (22%).”

More than three-in-five Canadians (63%) support the “15-minute city” concept, while 16% oppose it and 22% are undecided.

Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to be in favour of the “15-minute city” (66%) than their counterparts aged 55 and over (60%) and aged 35-to-54 (51%).

Among Canadians who were aware of the concept before taking the survey, support for the “15-minute city” rises to 72% and opposition jumps to 23%.

Respondents to this poll were asked about the possibility of five things happening if the “15-minute city” is implemented in their communities.

Majorities of Canadians believe the “15-minute city” will lead to a reduction in the use of personal automobiles (63%) and an increase in the mental health and well-being of residents (53%).

More than two thirds of Canadians who currently drive to school or work on weekdays (68%) think the municipalities that implement the “15-minute city” concept will experience a reduction in the use of personal automobiles.

For more than two-in-five Canadians (43%), the “15-minute city” will bring an increase in government surveillance and control, while 37% expect a reduction in personal freedoms and 27% foresee that residents will be fined if they leave their “home” districts.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from March 18 to March 20, 2023, among 1,000 Canadian adults. 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

“Yummy, That Was Delicious” is Canada’s Most Prevalent White Lie

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than one-in-five Canadians (21%) say they have lied about how much money they make at some point in their lives.

Vancouver, BC [March 29, 2023] – Practically a third of Canadians have been less than honest when assessing the genuine quality of a home-cooked meal, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 32 per cent of Canadians acknowledge having said that they enjoyed a home-cooked meal when they really did not.

Women (35%), Canadians aged 18-to-34 (also 35%) and Atlantic Canadians (40%) are more likely to admit that they misrepresented their authentic feelings about a home-cooked meal.

Just under one-in-four Canadians (24%) say they gave out a fake phone number or email address to a person they were not interested in talking to again—a proportion that rises to 29% among women.

Smaller proportions of Canadians acknowledge having lied in three other instances: sending a text message saying that they were “almost there” when they were going to be really late (22%), falsely claiming that their phone had no battery when someone attempted to contact them (21%) and failing to disclose the actual cost of something they purchased to their significant other (20%).

“There are practically no gender or age differences across Canada when it comes to withholding financial details from a significant other,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “People of all ages appear to have the same propensity to lie in this situation.”

Just under two-in-five Canadians (39%) say they have never relied on any of these five lies—including 51% of those aged 55 and over.

Canadians were also asked if they have lied to anyone about eight different topics over the course of their lives.

More than one-in-five Canadians (21%) say they have not been truthful about how much money they make, while 16% have lied about their age and 15% have fibbed about where they live.

Fewer Canadians acknowledge having lied at some point about whether they have a girlfriend or boyfriend (12%), their past job experience (10%), whether they have a wife or husband (6%), where they were born (5%) or their academic or educational credentials (also 5%).

Residents of Quebec are more likely to have lied about having a girlfriend or boyfriend (16%) than their counterparts in British Columbia (13%), Ontario (11%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 11%), Alberta (8%) and Atlantic Canada (7%).

This is the second of three releases exploring the relationship of Canadians with the truth. Click here to review the findings of the first one.

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

Canadians Open to “Progressive Punishment” System for Motorists

March 24, 2023March 23, 2023By Mario Canseco

Almost two thirds would set the fines for speeding tickets after considering the disposable income of the offending driver.

Vancouver, BC [March 24, 2023] – The concept of “progressive punishment” for drivers who are issued speeding tickets is endorsed by a majority of Canadians, a new Research Co. poll has found.

Two European countries—Finland and Switzerland—have implemented a “progressive punishment” system for speeding tickets.

In Finland, the fines are set on the basis of two indicators: the disposable income of the offending driver, and how much speed the offending driver went over the posted limit.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 65% of Canadians support implementing a similar “progressive punishment” system for speeding tickets in their city or town, while 24% are opposed and 11% are undecided.

Almost seven-in-ten residents of British Columbia and Quebec (69% each) are in favour of “progressive punishment” for speeding tickets, along with majorities of those who live in Ontario (63%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (62%), Atlantic Canada (60%) and Alberta (59%).

“Canadians in the highest income bracket are decidedly more dissatisfied with the concept of progressive punishment for speeding tickets,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Opposition to this course of action among Canadians who live in households earning more than $100,000 a year reaches 34%, 10 points higher than the national average.”

There has been some discussion about implementing a “progressive punishment” system for parking tickets issued by municipalities. The fines would be set on the basis of two indicators: the disposable income of the offending driver, and how many days the fine has gone unpaid.

More than half of Canadians (58%) support implementing a “progressive punishment” system for unpaid parking tickets issued by their city or town, while 31% are opposed and 11% are undecided.

Almost two thirds of Canadians of Indigenous or First Nations descent (65%) are in favour of “progressive punishment” for unpaid parking tickets issued by municipalities, along with majorities of Canadians whose descent is South Asian (62%), European (60%) and East Asian (59%).

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

Canadians Want the Truth, But Think Certain Lies Are Justified

March 22, 2023March 21, 2023By Mario Canseco

Many residents of the country think it is permissible to lie to spare someone’s feelings (55%) or to protect a relationship (45%).

Vancouver, BC [March 22, 2023] – While three-in-four Canadians believe every person should always be truthful, there are certain moments when their testimony is less than sincere, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 74% of Canadians think people should always tell the truth, regardless of the consequences.

Just under two thirds of Canadians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2021 (65%) endorse the idea of people always being truthful, compared to 80% among those who cast ballots for the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party in the last federal election.

The survey asked Canadians if they think it is permissible to lie in five different circumstances. Only 16% of Canadians would consent to falsehood in order to impress people and boost their reputation, such as claiming they were primarily responsible for a project when they were not.

Just under three-in-ten Canadians (28%) believe it is justified to lie to be perceived in a positive light, such as claiming that they were late because there was an accident on the way to the office—a proportion that rises to 33% among those aged 18-to-34.

More than two-in-five Canadians (41%) think it is fine to rely on falsehoods to protect someone else, such as lying about the whereabouts of a child or a friend to help them avoid negative consequences.

Just under half of Canadians (45%) think it is permissible to lie in order to protect a relationship, such as withholding information that could cause anxiety or anger to a significant other.

There is a significant gender gap on this question. Practically half of men (49%) see no problem with fibbing in order to protect a relationship, compared to 40% among women.

More than half of Canadians (55%) believe lying to spare someone else’s feelings, such as not pointing out that clothes look bad on a person when they are asked, is justified.

Practically two thirds of Atlantic Canadians (65%) have no qualms about lying to spare someone’s feelings. The proportions are lower in Alberta (59%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (57%), British Columbia (56%), Ontario (53%) and Quebec (51%).

More than half of Canadians (56%) say there have been moments in their lives when they would have preferred to be told a lie instead of the truth.

“Canadians aged 18-to-34 are the most likely to have wished for falsehood instead of veracity at some point in their lives (63%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are lower among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (55%) and aged 55 and over (51%).”

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

Fewer than One-in-Five Canadians Want Monarchy to Continue

March 15, 2023March 14, 2023By Mario Canseco

Positive perceptions of six senior members of the Royal Family—including King Charles III—are lower now than in September 2022.

Vancouver, BC [March 15, 2023] – The proportion of Canadians who would like to maintain a form of government with a monarch has fallen to the lowest level recorded in 14 years, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, only 19% of Canadians say they would prefer for Canada to remain a monarchy, down 12 points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in September 2022.

More than four-in-five Canadians (44%, +8) would prefer for Canada to have an elected head of state, while 22% (-2) do not care either way and 15% (+4) are undecided.

Fewer than one-in-four Albertans (24%, -18), Atlantic Canadians (also 24%, -16) and British Columbians (23%, -11) endorse the continuation of the monarchy. The numbers are lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (20%, -6), Ontario (19%, -12) and Quebec (14%, -11).

Across the country, only 32% of Canadians (-14) have a favourable opinion of King Charles III, while fewer than one-in-four (22%, -10) express similar feelings about Queen Consort Camilla.

Just over a third of Atlantic Canadians (36%), Ontarians (34%) and British Columbians (also 34%) hold positive views on King Charles III. The numbers are lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (32%), Alberta (30%) and Quebec (27%).

“In February 2022, almost two thirds of Canadians (64%) held favourable views on Queen Elizabeth II,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Thirteen months later, the rating for the current monarch is exactly half.”

Positive perceptions also fell for four other members of the Royal Family: William, Prince of Wales (54%, -13), Catherine, Princess of Wales (also 54%, -13), Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (46%, -18) and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (41%, -12).

Canadians who watched the Netflix series “Harry & Meghan” are more likely to have a favourable opinion of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (71% and 68% respectively).

Seven-in-ten Canadians (70%, -4) think King Charles III should commit to reduce the carbon footprint of the entire Royal Family, while almost two thirds (65%, -4) want him to advance the cause of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Half of Canadians (50%, -5) would have liked to see Prince William as monarch of the United Kingdom and the other 14 Commonwealth realms, including Canada. Just over a third of Canadians (35%, +1) say they have a problem with King Charles III being featured on coins and bills that will be used in Canada.

Fewer than half of Canadians (47%, -5) expect Canada to still be a monarchy in twenty years, while more than a third (36%, +5) believe the country will feature an elected head of state by then.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from March 3 to March 5, 2023, 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, 19 times out of 20.

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

or more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490 [e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Fewer Metro Vancouverites Annoyed with Weekday Commutes

March 10, 2023April 27, 2023By Mario Canseco

Traffic and bad drivers are the main hindrances for drivers, while public transit users dread overcrowding inside vehicles.

Vancouver, BC [March 10, 2023] – Compared to 2019, more residents of Metro Vancouver report having a good time when going to school or work on weekdays, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative Metro Vancouver sample, more than seven-in-ten weekday commuters (73%) describe their experience as pleasant, up five points since a similar Research Co. poll completed in May 2019.

More than one-in-four Metro Vancouver weekday commuters (26%, -3) say their experience going to school or work is annoying.

“Just under one-in-five weekday commuters in Vancouver (19%) are dissatisfied with their experience,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion is higher among weekday commuters who reside in Surrey (27%) or in the remaining Metro Vancouver municipalities (33%).”

The main elements that make a weekday commute pleasant for drivers in Metro Vancouver are not dealing with too much traffic (45%), having an easy time finding parking spots (44%) and controlling the entertainment on their vehicle (40%).

About half of weekday public transit users who say their commute is pleasant say the vehicles they rely on arrive on time (53%), usually find a seat for themselves (49%) and can get things done while on the bus or SkyTrain, such as read the paper or answer e-mails (also 49%).

Drivers who say their weekday commute is annoying are primarily upset with traffic (94%) and encountering bad drivers on the road (68%). Public transit users who do not have a good time on their weekday commute blame overcrowding inside transit vehicles (80%) and waiting for transit vehicles to pick them up (72%).

More than half of Metro Vancouverites who commute (54%) say driving would be their ideal way to get to school or work on weekdays, while 23% select public transit, 14% pick biking and 6% choose walking.

More than a quarter of Metro Vancouverites who commute on weekdays (27%) say their situation is worse now than five years ago, while 47% report no change and 23% say things are better now.

Weekday commuters in Metro Vancouver who drive are more likely to say that the state of affairs is worse now (32%) than those who take public transit (22%).

Sizeable majorities of weekday commuters in Metro Vancouver say living close to their workplace is important to them (85%), are willing to work from home more often to avoid commuting (74%) and would choose a prospective employer primarily based on where the office they would work at is located (71%).

More than half of weekday commuters in Metro Vancouver (57%) would seriously consider moving from their current home if they changed jobs and had a longer commute, while half (49%) would be willing to make less money if they can get a job that is closer to their home.

Half of weekday commuters in Metro Vancouver who drive (50%) say they would not be willing to pay for tolls on roads or bridges if it guaranteed a shorter commute time.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from March 4 to March 7, 2023, among 700 adults in Metro Vancouver. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Metro Vancouver. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.7 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