Lifestyle – Page 5 – Research Co.

Half of Canadians Say Their City or Town is Noisier Than in 2021

August 23, 2022May 22, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than a third of the country’s residents (36%) have been bothered by unnecessary noise from vehicles in their own homes.

Vancouver, BC [August 23, 2022] – A sizeable proportion of Canadians have been bothered by a variety of noises while inside their homes, and practically half claim that their surroundings are not as quiet as they were in 2021, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 49% of Canadians believe their city or town has become noisier over the past year, up 22 points since a similar Research Co. survey conducted in January 2021.

Just over two-in-five Canadians (41%, +18) think their street is noisier now than it was in 2021, while three-in-ten (30%, +2) feel the same way about their homes.

More than two-in-five Canadians of Indigenous (44%) and South Asian (41%) descent feel their home is noisier now, along with 32% of women, 40% of Canadians aged 18-to-34 and 37% of British Columbians.

When asked about specific disturbances that have bothered them at home over the past year, more than a third of Canadians (36%, +6) mention unnecessary noise from vehicles (such as motorcycles and cars revving up).

At least one-in-four Canadians were also subjected to construction-related noises (such as roofing, land clearing and heavy machinery) (29%, new), loud people outside their home (28%, +8), dogs barking (27%, +3), a car alarm (25%, +5) and yard work (such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers) (also 25%, +6).

Fewer Canadians were disturbed over the past 12 months by nine other noises, including loud music playing inside a vehicle (21%, +3), power tools (such as electric saws and sanders) (21%, +3), drivers honking the horn excessively (20%, +8), yelling or screaming at a nearby home (19%, +1), loud music at a nearby home (18%, +1), fireworks (18%, +2), a loud gathering or party at a nearby home (17%, +2), a home alarm (10%, +1) and cats meowing (7%, +2).

“Compared to 2021, there is significant growth in the proportion of Canadians who have been bothered at home by drivers honking the horn excessively,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “In British Columbia, three-in-ten residents (30%) have experienced this nuisance.”

Practically three-in-four Canadians (74%, -5) have not taken any action to deal with noise at home. About one-in-seven (14%, +2) have worn earplugs or earmuffs to mitigate noise—including 20% of Quebecers and 22% of Canadians aged 18-to-34.

Fewer Canadians have chosen to report noise concerns to the police (8%, +3), acquired hardware to mitigate noise while inside their home (such as noise cancelling headphones or earphones) (7%, =) or moved away from their previous dwelling because of noise (5%, +1).

Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from August 14 to August 16, 2022, 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

British Columbians Say Homelessness Has Increased in Province

August 19, 2022August 18, 2022By Mario Canseco

Most residents think all levels of government have done a “bad job” coming up with solutions to deal with this problem.

Vancouver, BC [August 19, 2022] – Majorities of residents of British Columbia are disappointed with the way their elected officials have addressed the issue of homelessness, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 61% of British Columbians think the federal government has done a “bad” or “very bad” job coming up with solutions to deal with homelessness.

More than half of British Columbians also believe both the provincial government (56%) and their municipal government (55%) have done a “bad” or “very bad” job on this file.

More than seven-in-ten British Columbians (73%) consider the current situation related to homelessness in the province as a major problem—a proportion that rises to 83% in the Fraser Valley.

More than half of the province’s residents (52%) think homelessness in their municipality is a major problem, while 27% feel the same way about the current state of affairs in their neighbourhood.

Practically four-in-five British Columbians (79%) believe homelessness has increased across the province over the past three years, and more than three-in-five (63%) feel the same way about the current situation in their municipality. Just over two-in-five (42%) also say that homelessness has intensified in their neighbourhood.

When asked about factors that are to blame “a great deal” for the current situation regarding homelessness in the province, most British Columbians point the finger at addiction and mental health issues (60%) and a lack of affordable housing (53%).

Fewer British Columbians blame poverty and inequality (41%), personal actions and decisions (30%) and bad economy and unemployment (24%) for homelessness.

British Columbians are evenly split on whether homelessness can be eradicated. While 47% of the province’s residents believe this can be achieved with the proper funding and policies, 46% claim that homelessness will always be a problem in British Columbia.

“More than three-in-five British Columbians aged 55 and over (62%) believe that the notion of a province without homelessness is unattainable,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Fewer of their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (39%) and aged 18-to-34 (34%) are skeptical.”

Most British Columbians agree with four different ideas to reduce homelessness in the province: increasing temporary housing options for people experiencing homelessness (80%), offering incentives to developers if they focus on building affordable housing units (78%), devoting tax money to build units to house homeless residents (67%) and changing zoning laws to allow property owners to build more units on standard lots (60%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from August 13 to August 15, 2022, 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

Few Canadians Want to Go Back to Imperial Measurement System

August 15, 2022August 18, 2022By Mario Canseco

A sizeable majority of the country’s residents rely on feet and inches, and not metres, to measure a person’s height.

Vancouver, BC [August 15, 2022] – While Canadians are not particularly supportive of moving away from the International Metric System, many continue to use Imperial measurements in their daily lives, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, only 29% of Canadians would like to see the country adopting the Imperial system. More than half (56%) disagree and would carry on with the International Metric System.

“Practically two-in-five Canadians aged 55 and over (38%) would go back to the Imperial system of units,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “This wish is less prevalent among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (23%) and aged 18-to-34 (24%).”

When asked about how they personally measure six different things, majorities of Canadians gravitate towards Imperial units in three specific cases.

Four-in-five Canadians (80%) measure a person’s height in feet and inches, while 20% rely on metres and centimetres.

More than three-in-four Canadians (76%) use pounds when calculating a person’s weight, while 24% rely on kilograms.

Three-in-five Canadians (59%) measure the temperature of their ovens in degrees Fahrenheit, while 41% use degrees Celsius.

Feet and inches are the preferred units to measure a person’s height for Canadians aged 18-to-34 (71%), aged 35-to-54 (79%) and aged 55 and over (88%).

Across Canada, three other measurements are more likely to be conducted using the International Metric System.

More than four-in-five Canadians (84%) calculate the amount of liquid in a container using litres, while 16% rely on quarts and gallons.

More than four-in-five Canadians (82%) measure a vehicle’s speed in kilometres per hour, while 28% use miles per hour.

More than three-in-four Canadians (77%) gauge the temperature outside their home in degrees Celsius, while 23% rely on degrees Fahrenheit.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from August 1 to August 3, 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

Not All Metro Vancouverites Are Keen on Amalgamation

August 12, 2022August 11, 2022By Mario Canseco

Almost two-in-five likely voters in the region think housing is the most important issue facing their municipality right now.

Vancouver, BC [August 12, 2022] – The idea of merging all Metro Vancouver municipalities into a single entity is not particularly attractive to all likely voters in the region, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of likely voters in Metro Vancouver, 44% of respondents think it would be worthwhile to explore the idea of amalgamating all of the municipalities in Metro Vancouver, like they did in Toronto or Montreal.

“Majorities of likely voters in Surrey (53%) and Vancouver (52%) favour the concept of amalgamation,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “In all other regions of Metro Vancouver, the level of support for this concept is decidedly lower.”

In the North Shore municipalities, only 40% of likely voters think it is time to explore amalgamation. The proportions are lower in Burnaby, Richmond and New Westminster (37%), the Tri-Cities (35%), Delta, White Rock, the City of Langley and the Township of Langley (23%) and Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge (13%).

More than two-in-five likely voters in Metro Vancouver (45%) think their municipality should abandon the “at-large system” (where voters select individual councillors) and move to a “ward system” (where councillors can be elected in specific constituencies).

The “ward system” is more popular in the two most populous municipalities: Vancouver (60%) and Surrey (53%).

Almost two-in-five likely voters in Metro Vancouver (38%) say housing is the most important issue facing their municipality, followed by property taxes (11%), crime (9%), climate change (also 9%) and COVID-19 (8%).

Housing is a particularly serious concern for likely voters in Burnaby, Richmond and New Westminster (55%), while concerns over crime are more prevalent in Surrey (18%) and Delta, White Rock, the City of Langley and the Township of Langley (13%) .

More than half of likely voters in the Tri-Cities (64%), the North Shore (61%), Vancouver (54%) and Burnaby, Richmond and New Westminster (53%) are satisfied with the performance of their mayors. The rating is lower in Delta, White Rock, the City of Langley and the Township of Langley (40%), Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge (also 40%) and Surrey (23%).

More than three-in-five likely voters in the Tri-Cities (62%) and the North Shore (61%) are satisfied with the work of their councils. All other regions are below the 50% mark on this question, including Burnaby, Richmond and New Westminster (47%), Vancouver (37%), Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge (36%), Delta, White Rock, the City of Langley and the Township of Langley (34%) and Surrey (28%).

Almost half of likely voters across Metro Vancouver (47%) say they are satisfied with the state of affairs in their municipality. Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge hold the lowest ranking on this question (20%) while the Tri-Cities are at the top (68%).

More than half of likely voters in Metro Vancouver are satisfied with three other issues in their respective municipalities: public safety (55%), the quality of services (64%) and cleanliness (67%).

The lowest rating for public safety is observed in Surrey, where 39% of likely voters are satisfied and a majority (57%) are dissatisfied.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from August 3 to August 6, 2022, among 800 likely voters in Metro Vancouver. 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 +/- 3.5 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

A Third of Canadian Households Experienced COVID-19 Recently

August 8, 2022December 15, 2022By Mario Canseco

The country’s residents are divided on whether restrictions and mandates were lifted at the right time in their community.

Vancouver, BC [August 8, 2022] – A growing number of Canadians acknowledge that their household has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 over the past few weeks, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 37% of Canadians say themselves, or someone else in their household, became infected with COVID-19 after restrictions and mandates were lifted in their community, up 14 points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in May 2022.

Across the country 46% of Canadians (+3) believe restrictions and mandates were abandoned too early in their community, while 44% (-5) think the decision was made at the right time.

“More than half of Atlantic Canadians (55%) appear disappointed with the absence of restrictions and mandates related to COVID-19,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are lower in Alberta (48%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (47%), British Columbia (45%), Quebec (also 45%) and Ontario (43%).”

Compared to May, there is little fluctuation when Canadians are asked about the possible return of specific regulations. Two thirds (66%, -2) would be satisfied if they have to wear a mask or face covering when entering an indoor premise. Slightly smaller proportions of Canadians would feel the same way if a reduction of capacity at venues (such as cinemas, theatres, concert halls and sports arenas) is implemented (63%, -1) or if proof of vaccination is required once again to go to restaurants or public events (60%, -1).

Three-in-five Canadians (60%, +1) believe it is only a matter of time before everyone catches COVID-19, and a majority (54%, +2) claim that, as long as people are vaccinated, the virus is a minor nuisance. In addition, 63% of Canadians (+3) foresee being vaccinated against COVID-19 at least once again in the next six months.

Just over two thirds of Canadians (68%) state that the worst of COVID-19 is definitely or probably “behind us”, down eight points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in May 2022.

More than three-in-four Canadians (77%, -1) continue to brand COVID-19 as a real threat—including 82% of those aged 55 and over.

Public satisfaction with the pandemic performance of the federal government dropped from 61% in May to 55% this month. The rating is highest in Quebec (60%) and Atlantic Canada (58%), followed by Ontario (53%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (52%), British Columbia (49%) and Alberta (48%).

The satisfaction rating also fell this month for provincial administrations (53%, -10) and municipal governments (59%, -6).

In the four most populous provinces of Canada, the level of satisfaction with COVID-19 management is highest in British Columbia (62%, =), followed by Quebec (58%, -9), Ontario (48%, -17) and Alberta (39%, -14).

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: Great11

Two-in-Five Canadians Expect National Economy to Decline

August 2, 2022August 1, 2022By Mario Canseco

Positive perceptions of Justin Trudeau as an economic manager have fallen to 41% across the country.

Vancouver, BC [August 28, 2022] – A majority of Canadians perceive the nation’s finances in a negative light, and there is a significant increase in the proportion of the country’s residents who foresee a worsening situation, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 57% of Canadians consider the economic conditions in Canada right now as “bad” or “very bad”, up three points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in January 2022.

Only two-in-five Canadians (40%, -1) describe the country’s economic conditions as “very good” or “good” today.

Positive views on the national economy reach 55% in Quebec (+7). The rating is significantly lower across all other regions of Canada, including British Columbia (37%, -3), Atlantic Canada (36%, -7) Ontario (34%, -9), Alberta (32%, -1) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (30%, +4).

Just 13% of Canadians (-7) believe the Canadian economy will improve over the next six months, while 40% (+10) predict a decline and 40% (-1) foresee conditions staying as they are.

While 57% of Canadians (-1) define their own personal finances today as “very good” or “good”, just over two-in-five (41%, +3) describe them as “bad” or “very bad.”

Only 41% of Canadians (-6) express confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to do the right thing to help the economy, while a majority (52%, +4) distrust him.

“Two thirds of Albertans (68%) have misgivings about Trudeau as an economic manager,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The negative rating is lower in British Columbia (55%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (53%), Atlantic Canada (51%), Ontario (48%) and Quebec (46%).”

More than a third of Canadians (37%, =) trust Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem to make the right decisions to help the nation’s finances. The rating is lower (26%) for federal Leader of the Opposition Candice Bergen.

There are some significant changes in the perceptions of Canadians on inflation. More than four-in-five (81%, -2) continue to expect higher prices for a week’s worth of groceries over the next six months, and majorities also foresee paying more for a new car (68%, -3) and a new television set (57%, -5).

The needle moved on two items, with 61% of Canadians (-21) expecting to pay more for gasoline in the next six months and only 44% (-28) thinking real estate will be more expensive.

Half of Canadians have worried “frequently” or “occasionally” about the safety of their savings (50%, +6) and the value of their investments (50%, +9) over the past couple of months.

Fewer Canadians are preoccupied about unemployment affecting their household (34%, +3), being able to pay their mortgage or rent (34%, +3) or their employer running into serious financial trouble (24%, -2).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from July 11 to July 13, 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, 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

Few British Columbians Ponder Calorie Counts When Dining Out

July 26, 2022July 26, 2022By Mario Canseco

More than three-in-four believe it should be mandatory to display calories on any menu that lists or depicts standard food items.

Vancouver, BC [July 26, 2022] – Residents of British Columbia pay more attention to the nutritional value of foods when they are at the supermarket than when dining out or ordering in, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, more than a third of British Columbians (37%) say they “frequently” check labels to review nutritional content when buying groceries for themselves or others in their household.

Significantly fewer British Columbians “frequently” pay attention to menus to review nutritional content when dining out (13%) or when ordering food delivery (11%).

While almost three-in-ten British Columbians (29%) “frequently” check labels at the grocery store to review the total calories of a product, the proportion drops drastically when residents dine out (14%) or order in (11%).

A similar scenario ensues when respondents are asked about checking for two other items in the food they consume. About three-in-ten British Columbians check labels at the grocery store for sodium (32%) and fat (29%). Fewer follow the same course of action when they go to a restaurant (Sodium 14%, Fat 13%) or when they browse menus or apps for food delivery (Sodium 10%, Fat 11%).

In the Province of Ontario, it is mandatory to display calories on any menu that lists or depicts standard food items offered for sale by a regulated food service premises. More than three-in-four British Columbians (76%, -5 since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in November 2018) are in favour of adopting this regulation.

In 2012, the Province of British Columbia implemented the Informed Dining initiative, a program designed to allow residents to have nutrition information available when eating at participating food service establishments. The voluntary program was abandoned in 2020.

“British Columbians appear to be affected by the lack of standards when it comes to nutritional information in restaurants,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Customers do not have the same information to make a decision that they currently have at the grocery store.”

The proportion of British Columbians who use an activity tracker to monitor certain fitness-related metrics—such as distance walked, amount of exercise and/or calorie consumption—increased from 41% in November 2018 to 45% this month.

Practically half of Metro Vancouverites (49%) rely on an activity tracker. The proportions are lower in Southern BC (46%), Northern BC (42%), Vancouver Island (36%) and the Fraser Valley (35%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from July 4 to July 6, 2022, 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

Generation X Moves Toward Music Streaming Services in Canada

July 22, 2022July 22, 2022By Mario Canseco

Compared to last year, fewer Canadians aged 35-to-54 are listening to music on the radio.

Vancouver, BC [July 22, 2022] – The proportion of Canadians who relied on a radio to listen to music on a weekly basis has dropped since last year, as more members of Generation X embrace streaming platforms, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 60% of Canadians heard music on a regular radio over the past week, down six points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in January 2021.

Just over two-in-five Canadians (41%, +1) say they listened to music on a streaming service over the past seven days, while fewer than one-in-four (23%, -7) accessed music files stored in a computer or a phone.

Over the past week, fewer Canadians heard music on an LP record, cassette or CD (13%, -2) or on satellite radio (12%, =).

“The data shows a marked generational divide when it comes to how Canadians are listening to music,” says Mario Canseco. President of Research Co. “While Canadians aged 18-to-34 were quicker to adopt streaming platforms, their counterparts aged 35-to-54 are now clearly moving in the same direction.”

Practically three-in-five Canadians aged 18-to-34 (59%) are listening to music on a streaming service, while less than half (45%, down 17 points since February 2019) are using a radio.

Almost half of Canadians aged 35-to-54 (48%, +3 since 2021) are listening to music on a streaming platform, while 62% (-8) rely on the radio.

Two thirds of Canadians aged 55 and over (67%, -3) hear music on the radio, while 27% (-1) listen on a streaming platform.

Almost one-in-four Canadians (24%, +4) paid to access a music streaming service in the last month, including 40% of those aged 18-to-34 and 26% of those aged 35-to-54.

In the last month, significantly fewer Canadians paid for and downloaded a song online (11%, =) or purchased a compact disc or LP record (7%, -3).

Canadians remain divided when asked to ponder if, in this day and age, music creators are being fairly compensated for their work. While 40% think they are (=), 40% (-1) claim that they are not.

While only 30% (-2) of Canadians aged 55 and over believe music creators are being fairly compensated right now, the proportion rises to 45% (+3) among those aged 35-to-54 and to 55% (+1) among those aged 18-to-34.

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

British Columbians Enthusiastic and Selective About Activism

July 19, 2022July 18, 2022By Mario Canseco

Three-in-ten British Columbians would protest a low-income housing project located within three blocks of their home.

Vancouver, BC [July 19, 2022] – A significant proportion of British Columbians are engaged in campaigns to bring about political or social change, but their willingness to protest plans to establish specific facilities in their neighbourhood is not substantial, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 30% of British Columbians say they have used social media to protest or support an issue, while 25% have donated money to an organization that supports or opposes an issue.

About one-in-seven British Columbians have attended a public consultation meeting or process (15%) or a protest (14%), while fewer acknowledge joining a political party or campaign (7%), participating in a political campaign (6%) or taking legal action against a development or project (5%)

“Two thirds of British Columbians aged 18-to-34 (67%) have been involved in some form of activism,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are lower among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (48%) and aged 55 and over (41%).”

The survey also asked British Columbians about which actions they would take under hypothetical circumstances related to their municipality and their neighbourhood.

More than half of the province’s residents would take no action if there were plans to install a military base (57%), a casino (62%), a recycling plant (64%) or wind turbines (67%) within the boundaries of their municipality.

British Columbians are more likely to consider passive protest—such as sending letters to politicians or complaining on social media—to register concerns about a natural gas pipeline (19%), an incinerator for waste treatment (21%), a prison (22%), an oil pipeline, a landfill site, an oil refinery or a nuclear power plant (23% each) or a coal terminal (26%).

Active protest, which includes donating to opponents and attending town halls, would be the recourse of 24% of British Columbians to deal with a coal terminal and of 29% to deal with a nuclear power plant.

When asked about the possibility of specific facilities seeking a permit to operate three blocks away from their home, majorities of British Columbians would take no action on a cell phone tower (54%), a low-income housing project (58%), a marijuana store (60%), a recycling depot (63%), a retail or mall development (65%), an entertainment complex (69%), a pub or bar (also 69%) or a hospital (75%).

At least one-in-five British Columbians would passively protest if a composting site (20%), a homeless shelter (22%) or a sewage plant (27%) attempted to operate within three blocks of their home. Similar proportions of residents would actively protest against a composting site and a homeless shelter (20% each) and a sewage plant (25%).

Three-in-ten British Columbians (30%) are willing to passively (16%) or actively (14%) protest a low-income housing project seeking a permit to set-up within three blocks of their home, while 58% would take no action.

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

One-in-Four Canadian WhatsApp Users Face Scams, Fake News

July 15, 2022July 14, 2022By Mario Canseco

The vast majority of messages received on the app (84%) are personal, while fewer than one-in-five (16%) are work-related.

Vancouver, BC [July 15, 2022] – Just over two-in-five Canadians who rely on WhatsApp have never encountered one of four different setbacks while using the instant messaging application, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 45% of Canadians say they use WhatsApp, including 68% of those aged 18-to-34 and 55% of Ontarians.

More than three-in-four Canadian WhatsApp users (76%) say they rely on the application to send text messages “every day” or “a few days a week.”

More than half of WhatsApp users in Canada (55%) share pictures through the app “every day” or “a few days a week”, a proportion that rises to 74% among those aged 18 to 34.

Fewer Canadian WhatsApp users make audio phone calls (46%), share news articles (44%) or make video phone calls (42%) “every day” or “a few days a week” through the application.

Over the course of an average week, 84% of all WhatsApp messages received by Canadians are personal in nature (from friends and family), while the remaining 16% are work-related (dealing with co-workers, tasks or clients).

Only 41% of Canadian WhatsApp users say they have not encountered any one of four problems when using the app.

Almost two-in-five Canadian WhatsApp users (38%) acknowledge that they had to block a person on the app, including 52% of Atlantic Canadians.

More than a quarter of Canadian WhatsApp users (27%) say they were added to a group without their consent, a proportion that rises to 41% in Quebec.

One-in-four Canadian WhatsApp users received “fake news” or misinformation on the app (24%) or were targeted by a scam (23%).

“About a third of Canadian WhatsApp users aged 18-to-34 (32%) are successful at pinpointing misinformation,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The numbers are decidedly lower among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (24%) and aged 55 and over (16%).”

WhatsApp users in British Columbia are more likely to have been targeted by a scam while using the application (26%) than those in Alberta and Quebec (24% each), Ontario (23%), Atlantic Canada (22%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (17%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from June 25 to June 27, 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, 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

British Columbians Ambiguous About Province-Wide Police Force

July 12, 2022July 11, 2022By Mario Canseco

Seven-in-ten residents (70%) support increasing the use of closed circuit television (CCTV) in their community.

Vancouver, BC [July 12, 2022] – Residents of British Columbia are split when assessing if a province-wide police force that would replace the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) should be created, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 39% of British Columbians agree with this idea, while 38% disagree and 23% are undecided.

Earlier this year, the all-party Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act in the Legislative Assembly issued a report which recommended the establishment of a BC-wide police force that would replace the RCMP.

At least two-in-five residents of Northern BC (45%), the Fraser Valley (43%), Vancouver Island (also 43%) and Metro Vancouver (40%) are in favour of instituting a BC-wide police force. Support is decidedly lower in Southern BC (26%).

The concept of “defunding the police” calls for divesting funds from police departments and reallocating them to non-policing forms of public safety and community support. Almost half of British Columbians (49%) agree with this idea, while 38% disagree and 14% are not sure.

Support for “defunding the police” is highest among BC Green Party voters in the last provincial election (66%). The level of agreement is lower among British Columbians who cast ballots for the BC New Democratic Party (NDP) (53%) or the BC Liberals (50%) in 2020.

Seven-in-ten British Columbians (70%) agree with increasing the use of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in their community as a means of surveillance to help deter and solve crimes.

Compared to a similar Research Co. poll conducted in November 2021, there are no changes in the perceptions of British Columbians on two issues: almost half (48%) continue to fear becoming victims of crime in their community “a great deal” or “a fair amount” and 63% would feel “very safe” or “moderately safe” walking alone in their own neighbourhood after dark.

This month, fear of crime is highest in Northern BC (52%, +3), followed by Metro Vancouver (51%, -3), Southern BC (48%, +16), the Fraser Valley (45%, +4) and Vancouver Island (40%, -1).

Fewer than one-in-five British Columbians (18%, -2) say they have been victims of a crime involving the police (such as an assault or a car break-in) in their community over the past four years.

Just over half of British Columbians (51%, +7) believe that the level of criminal activity in their community has increased in the past four years—a proportion that jumps to 62% in Southern BC.

British Columbians continue to support the authorization of two bans in their municipality: one on military-style assault weapons (82%, -2) and another one on handguns (75%, -4).

More than half of British Columbians (51%, +3) think addiction and mental health issues are to blame “a great deal” for the current situation regarding crime in their community.

Fewer residents of the province blame other factors, such as gangs and the illegal drug trade (37%, -1), poverty and inequality (32%, +1), an inadequate court system (32%, +2), lack of values and improper education for youth (27%, =), a bad economy and unemployment (24%, +4), insufficient policing and a lack of resources to combat crime (also 22%, +2) and immigrants and minorities (8%, -1).

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

2030 Winter Olympic Bid Trending Upward in British Columbia

July 5, 2022July 4, 2022By Mario Canseco

Most of the province’s residents agree with Vancouver being a host city during the FIFA (Soccer) 2026 Men’s World Cup.

Vancouver, BC [July 5, 2022] – Public support for a new opportunity to host the Winter Olympics has improved in British Columbia, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 54% of British Columbians think Vancouver should launch a bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2030, up 11 points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in October 2021.

Support for the 2030 Winter Games bid is highest among British Columbians aged 18-to-34 (61%). The proportions are lower among those aged 35-to-54 (56%) and those aged 55 and over (48%).

On a regional basis, public backing for the 2030 bid is highest in the Fraser Valley (58%), followed by Northern BC (57%), Metro Vancouver (56%), Southern BC (52%) and Vancouver Island (46%).

Vancouver hosted the XXI Olympic Winter Games, from February 12 to February 28, 2010. A Winter Olympics bid in 2030 is being explored by Four Host First Nations—Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Lilwat—and the municipal governments of Vancouver and Whistler.

Almost one-in-four British Columbians (23%) say they are more likely to support the 2030 bid because of the Indigenous partnership, while 44% say it has no effect on their views and 18% are less likely to back the project.

“Practically a third of British Columbians aged 18-to-34 (32%) are more inclined to support the 2030 Winter Olympic bid because of the Indigenous partnership,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Conversely, just over one-in-four British Columbians aged 55 and over (26%) are less likely to back the bid because of this reason.”

A significant majority of British Columbians (58%, +5) believe it is impossible for Vancouver to host the 2030 Winter Olympics without any public or government funds.

Just under half of British Columbians (48%, +10) think Vancouver should launch a bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2036, a proportion that rises to 58% among residents aged 18-to-34.

The views of British Columbians on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not go through significant changes since 2021. Almost half (47%, -1) have positive views of the IOC, while more than a third (33%, -3) hold negative opinions.

Vancouver was selected as one of the 16 host cities for the FIFA (Soccer) 2026 Men’s World Cup. More than half of British Columbians (55%) agree with this decision, including 58% of those aged 35-to-54.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from June 24 to June 26, 2022, 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

Flag First, Health Care Down as Canadians Assess Sources of Pride

June 28, 2022June 29, 2023By Mario Canseco

Fewer than half of Canadians say Parliament (45%) and the Monarchy (37%) make them proud.

Vancouver, BC [June 28, 2022] – While Canadians continue to rank the flag as their main source of pride, perceptions on the country’s health care system have dropped dramatically since 2021, a new Research Co. poll has found.

The online survey of a representative national sample asks Canadians to say if 12 institutions and features elicit feelings of pride among them.

Just under four-in-five Canadians (78%, +1 since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in 2021) say they are proud of the flag.

More than two thirds of Canadians express pride in multiculturalism (69%, -1) and hockey (also 68%, +2).

Majorities of Canadians are proud of five other institutions and features: the Canadian Armed Forces (65%, -2), bilingualism (59%, =), the health care system (58%, -8) , Indigenous culture (also 58%, -4) and the state of democracy in Canada (57%, -5).

Just under half of Canadians express pride in the Canadian economy (49%, =) and the Canadian justice system (also 49%, -3). The ranking is lower for Parliament (45%, -5) and the Monarchy (37%, +3).

“Three years ago, 77% of Canadians were proud of the health care system,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “In 2022, the proportion has dropped by 19 points to 58%.”

Men are significantly more likely to say that the health care system is a source of pride (66%) than women (51%). On a regional basis, the health care system scores best in Ontario (71%), followed by Alberta (69%), British Columbia (59%), Atlantic Canada (51%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (50%) and Quebec (45%).

While 57% of Canadians are proud of the state of democracy in Canada, there are significant differences across the political spectrum. Fewer than half of Conservative Party voters in the 2021 federal election (48%) say the state of democracy in Canada is source of pride. The rating is higher among Canadians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) (55%) or the Liberal Party (79%) last year.

More than half of Ontarians (54%) are proud of Parliament. The rating on this question is lower in Quebec (46%), Atlantic Canada (42%), British Columbia (41%), Alberta (35%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (31%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from June 18 to June 20, 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, 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

More Than Half of Vancouver Voters Would Abolish Park Board

June 17, 2022June 17, 2022By Mario Canseco

Almost three-in-five respondents support changing zoning laws to allow up to six strata title units on a standard lot.

Vancouver, BC [June 17, 2022] – Public confidence in the only elected Park Board in Canada has eroded considerably over the past year and a half, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample, 52% of likely voters in the City of Vancouver think the Board of Parks and Recreation should be eliminated, and that public parks and the public recreation system should be placed under the jurisdiction of City Council.

“In November 2020, only 44% of municipal likely voters in Vancouver favoured the elimination of the Board of Parks and Recreation,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “This month, the proportion has reached 52%.”

Public support for abolishing Vancouver’s Park Board is highest among likely voters who reside Downtown (63%), followed by those who live in the West Side (52%) and the East Side (45%).

Vancouverites who voted for Kennedy Stewart or Ken Sim in the 2018 mayoral election are significantly more likely to endorse the abolition of the Board of Parks and Recreation (61% and 60% respectively) than those who cast a ballot for Shauna Sylvester (43%).

Just over half of likely voters in Vancouver (51%, +5) believe it would be worthwhile to explore the idea of amalgamating all of the municipalities in Metro Vancouver, like they did in Toronto or Montreal.

Two thirds of Vancouverites who voted for Stewart in 2018 (67%) support exploring the concept of amalgamation, compared to just under half of those who cast a ballot for Sim (49%).

Almost three-in-five likely voters in Vancouver (58%, +5) are in favour of changing zoning laws to allow property owners to build up to six strata title units on a standard lot, provided the new building is no taller than an average home.

Majorities of Vancouver’s likely voters who currently rent or own their primary residence support a change in zoning laws (65% and 54% respectively).

Seven-in-ten likely voters in the City of Vancouver (71%, -10) are in favour of the plan to extend the Skytrain Millennium Line (currently under construction to Arbutus) to the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus at Point Grey.

Public support for the proposed SkyTrain extension is strongest among likely voters who reside Downtown (75%), followed by those who live in the East Side (72%) and the West Side (67%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from June 7 to June 9, 2022, among 400 municipal likely voters in the City of Vancouver. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in the City of Vancouver. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 4.9 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

Fewer Than One-in-Five Canadians Prefer Black Coffee

June 14, 2022June 13, 2022By Mario Canseco

When asked to select the best way to cook a steak, 27% of Canadians cast their vote for “medium”.

Vancouver, BC [June 14, 2022] – A plurality of Canadians express a fondness for the middle ground when assessing how they personally enjoy coffee and steak, a new Research Co. poll has found.

The online survey of a representative national sample showed Canadians two photographs with various shades of coffee and steak, and asked them to select what they usually consume.

Across the country, one-in-ten residents (10%) say they do not eat steak and about one-in-seven (15%) do not drink coffee.

Just under one-in-five Canadians (17%) selected the #1 option or black coffee, including 21% of men and 20% of those aged 55 and over.

“Only 13% of Atlantic Canadians usually take their coffee without any creamer,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion is higher in Quebec (15%), Ontario (16%), Alberta (17%), British Columbia (21%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (22%).”

The proportion of Canadians who selected shades #2, #3 and #4—adding a little bit of milk or creamer to their cup of coffee—stands at 18% across the country.

More than two-in-five Canadians (43%) take their coffee with a larger amount of milk or creamer, choosing shades #5, #6 and #7. This group includes 50% of women in Canada, but only 34% of men.

Shades #8 and #9—where the milk or creamer content is significantly greater—are selected by a combined 8% of Canadians, including 13% of Albertans.

Among the five shades of steak tested in the survey, more than one-in-four Canadians (27%) selected #3 or medium—including 29% of men and 32% of British Columbians.

Equal proportions of Canadians chose shade #4 or medium well (17%) or shade #5 or well done (also 17%). Well done steak is particularly fashionable among Atlantic Canadians (24%) and Quebecers (21%).

Just over one-in-five Canadians (21%) preferred shade #2 or medium rare, while 9% opted for shade #1 or blue.

The rarest of steaks are preferred by 14% of Canadians of Indigenous or First Nations origin.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 22 to May 24, 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, 19 times out of 20.

Find our data tables and photographs 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

Two Thirds of British Columbians Would Reduce Speed Limits

June 10, 2022June 9, 2022By Mario Canseco

Support for lowering speeds in residential areas to 30 km/h has increased from 58% in 2019 to 66% this year.

Vancouver, BC [June 10, 2022] – More British Columbians believe it is a good idea to have a lower speed limit on residential streets, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 66% of British Columbians acknowledge that they would “definitely” or “probably” like to see the speed limit reduced to 30 km/h on all residential streets in their municipality, while keeping the speed limit on arterial and collector roads at 50 km/h.

Support for a lower speed limit on British Columbia’s residential areas is higher with women (68%) than with men (63%). While seven-in-ten of the province’s residents aged 18-to-34 would welcome this regulation (70%), the rating is lower among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (65%) and aged 55 and over (62%).

On a regional basis, the notion of a lower residential speed limit is most popular in Southern BC (72%), followed by Metro Vancouver (67%), Northern BC (also 67%), the Fraser Valley (63%) and Vancouver Island (58%).

In 2019, Vancouver City Council unanimously passed a motion to establish a pilot project to reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h on select residential streets in the city. The pilot project is currently underway in the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood.

“In 2019, public support for a lower speed limit on British Columbia’s residential streets stood at 58%,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion climbed to 61% in 2021 and has increased again this year to 66%.”

More than seven-in-ten British Columbians (72%, +6) believe Vancouver’s pilot project is a “very good” or “good” idea—a proportion that rises to 84% among residents of Southern BC.

As was the case last year, almost two-in-five British Columbians (39%, =) say they witness cars circulating above the current speed limit on the street where they live “at least once a day.”

Fewer of the province’s residents are exposed to speeding vehicles on their street “a few times a week” (29%, +2), “a few times a month” (18%, =) or “never” (15%, -1).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from June 3 to June 5, 2022, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.5 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

Two-in-Five Canadians Would Take Nickel Out of Circulation

June 7, 2022June 27, 2022By Mario Canseco

Men (47%) are more likely to support getting rid of the five-cent coin than women (33%).

Vancouver, BC [June 7, 2022] – While practically half of Canadians are willing to keep the nickel, support for abandoning the five-cent coin has increased since 2019, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 40% of Canadians support taking the nickel out of circulation, up four points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in November 2019.

Almost half of Canadians (49%, -6) oppose abolishing the five-cent coin, while 11% (+2) are undecided.

There is a substantial gender gap when Canadians think about the nickel. While 47% of men support its abolition, the proportion drops to 33% among women.

Across Canada, 43% of residents aged 18-to-34 are in favour of taking the five-cent coin out of circulation. The proportion is lower among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (38%) and aged 55 and over (37%).

“More than half of residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (58%), British Columbia (52%) and Atlantic Canada (also 52%) support keeping the nickel,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion of five-cent coin fans is lower in Quebec (49%), Ontario (47%) and Alberta (46%).”

More than seven-in-ten Canadians (71%, -4) agree with the federal government’s decision to take the penny out of circulation in February 2013.

Male respondents are more likely to agree with dropping the one-cent coin (77%) than their female counterparts (66%).

The level of agreement with abolishing the penny is highest among Canadians aged 18-to-34 (74%), followed by those aged 55 and over (72%) and those aged 35-to-54 (65%).

More than seven-in-ten residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (75%), Ontario (71%) and Quebec (also 71%) agree with taking Canada’s one-cent coin out of circulation. The numbers are lower in Alberta (69%) and British Columbia (65%).

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from May 22 to May 24, 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, 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: Motorbicycle

Half of British Columbians Are Worried About Data Breaches

June 3, 2022June 3, 2022By Mario Canseco

More than four-in-five of the province’s residents are comfortable accessing banking information and shopping online.

Vancouver, BC [June 3, 2022] – While a sizeable majority of British Columbians are at ease managing specific tasks online, more than half express concerns about where their data could end up, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 51% of British Columbians say they have worried “frequently” or “occasionally” over the past couple of months about having their personal information stolen over the Internet, down two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in May 2021.

Similar proportions of British Columbians have worried “frequently” or “occasionally” about computers and technology being used to invade their privacy (51%, -1) and somebody hacking into their own computer or smartphone (46%, -3).

“In British Columbia, women (55%) are particularly concerned about their personal information falling into the wrong hands when they are online,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Fewer men (46%) share the same preoccupation.”

As was the case in 2021, more than four-in-five British Columbians are “very” or “moderately” comfortable shopping (89%, +2) and accessing banking information (87%, =) online. The level of comfort is lower across the province for making charitable donations online (73%, =) or commenting on an online forum that requires an email address (56%, +2).

Some British Columbians continue to encounter setbacks when relying on digital tools. More than three-in-five (63%, +2) have received “phishing” emails—where somebody attempts to acquire personal information by masquerading as a trustworthy entity—and a majority (58%, +4) received an email offering them money for their help and assistance, in what is usually referred to as the “Nigerian scam.”

Fewer than a third of the province’s residents reveal that their computer became infected with a virus while they were browsing the Internet (31%, =) or endured hackers accessing their social media platform (16%, +1) or email address (15%, =).

More than seven-in-ten British Columbians are partaking on five activities online at least a few times per month: visiting websites or blogs (89%, +2), accessing banking information (87%, -1), looking for deals on websites (81%, +2), using an instant messaging service (79%, +2) and looking for directions and/or maps to get to a destination (73%, +4),

Fewer British Columbians are purchasing goods from a website (60%, =), posting on social media (57%, -2), uploading pictures or videos to the Internet (53%, +3) or using the Internet to place telephone calls (39%, -2) at least a few times per month.

More than three-in-five British Columbians (62%, =) have googled themselves to see what has been posted about them online.

Among the province’s residents who typed their names on Google, 61% (+6) state that the information that came up was “accurate”, while 12% (-1) considered it “inaccurate”. More than a quarter of these residents (27%, -5) did not find information about themselves online.

Just over one-in-five British Columbians (22%) report having only one email address, while 41% possess two and 37% have three or more.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from April 25 to April 27, 2022, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.5 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

Separated Bike Lanes Remain Particularly Popular in Vancouver

May 27, 2022May 27, 2022By Mario Canseco

About a third of residents believe that some of the existing paths should be removed, but two-in-five endorse the status quo.

Vancouver, BC [May 27, 2022] – Two thirds of residents of the City of Vancouver are satisfied with the existence of dedicated cycling infrastructure, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative municipal sample, 66% of Vancouverites support having separated bike lanes in the city, up two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in May 2021.

“Vancouver’s cycling infrastructure is accepted by sizeable majorities of residents who bike (82%) or take public transit (79%) on weekdays,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Most Vancouverites who drive (59%) are also in favour of the separated bike lanes.”

Just over half of Vancouverites of East Asian descent (54%) support the city’s separated bike lanes. The rating is higher among the city’s residents of South Asian (70%) and European (71%) ancestry.

About a third of Vancouverites (32%, +4) believe there are too many separated bike lanes in the city and some should be removed, while just under one-in-five (19%, -3) say there are not enough separated bike lanes and more should be added.

Two-in-five residents of Vancouver (40%, -1) think the current number of bike lanes is correct—a proportion that rises to 46% among women, 48% among Vancouverites aged 18-to-34 and 43% among residents of the West side.

The Vancouver Park Board approved a temporary bike lane on Park Drive in Stanley Park until the Summer of 2022. More than three-in-five Vancouverites (63%, +4) think this is a “good idea”, while 24% (-5) consider the decision a “bad idea.”

Vancouverites who bike to school or work are extremely supportive of the temporary bike lane in Stanley Park (86%), along with those who rely on public transit to commute (69%).

While 32% of drivers in Vancouver consider the approval of a bike lane on Park Drive as a “bad idea”, more than half (57%) say it is a “good idea.”

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 17 to May 19, 2022, among 400 adults in the City of Vancouver. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in the City of Vancouver. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 4.9 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

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

May 24, 2022August 7, 2022By Mario Canseco

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