Canada – Page 12 – Research Co.

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).

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

Photo Credit: Great11

Two-in-Five Canadians Expect National Economy to Decline

August 2, 2022January 11, 2024By 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

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

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

Three-in-Ten Canadians Say Justin Trudeau is Worst Recent PM

July 8, 2022July 14, 2022By Mario Canseco

Pierre Trudeau (19%) and Stephen Harper (17%) are ahead when Canadians are asked who the best recent head of government is.

Vancouver, BC [July 8, 2022] – The perceptions of Canadians on the tenure of Justin Trudeau have worsened over the past year, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 29% of Canadians think Justin Trudeau has been Canada’s worst prime minister since 1968, up seven points since a similar Research Co. survey conducted in July 2021.

“Animosity towards Justin Trudeau is decidedly strong in one Canadian province,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Almost half of Albertans (49%) consider him the worst recent prime minister.”

Fewer than one-in-five Canadians (17%) think Stephen Harper has been the worst prime minister since 1968. The numbers are lower for Pierre Trudeau (6%, =), Kim Campbell (also 6%, +1), Brian Mulroney (5%, -2), Jean Chrétien (also 5%, +2), Joe Clark (3%, -1), Paul Martin (2%, =) and John Turner (also 2%, =).

When asked who Canada’s best recent head of government has been, 19% of Canadians (-1) select Pierre Trudeau, while 17% (+1) pick Harper. Justin Trudeau is third with 12% (-1), followed by Chrétien (9%, +2) and Mulroney (8%, -1).

Pierre Trudeau leads Harper as the best recent prime minister among Canadians aged 55 and over (27% to 21%). There is a virtual tie among Canadians aged 35-to-54 (Harper 18%, Pierre Trudeau 17%), while Justin Trudeau leads among Canadians aged 18-to-34 (19%).

British Columbians are split when assessing the best recent head of government (Pierre Trudeau 19%, Harper 17%). Pierre Trudeau tops the list in Quebec (23%), Ontario (22%) and Atlantic Canada (also 22%), while Harper is ahead in Alberta (35%) and Manitoba and Saskatchewan (28%).

The survey also asked questions about 10 different politicians who served as leaders of the Official Opposition in Ottawa over the past five decades.

Just under one-in-four Canadians think the last two leaders of the Conservative Party—Andrew Scheer and Erin O’Toole—would have made good prime ministers (23% each).

The rating on this question is lower for former Conservative Party leader Rona Ambrose (22%, -2), former Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day (20%, =) and two former Liberal Party leaders: Stéphane Dion (18%, -2) and Michael Ignatieff (also 18%, -1).

Three-in-ten Canadians (30%, -1) think former Progressive Conservative leader Robert Stanfield would have made a good head of government. The results are similar for former New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Tom Mulcair (29%, -1) and former Reform Party leader Preston Manning (28%, =).

A majority of Canadians (52%, +2) believe former NDP leader Jack Layton would have made a good prime minister—a proportion that rises to 58% in Quebec and 62% among Canadians aged 55 and over.

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: Bobak Ha’Eri

Separation from Canada Enthralls Some Albertans and Quebecers

July 1, 2022July 1, 2022By Mario Canseco

Half of Canadians (51%) believe their province would be better off with a different Prime Minister in Ottawa.

Vancouver, BC [July 1, 2022] – A third of residents of Alberta and Quebec hold positive feelings towards the notion of sovereignty, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 33% of Albertans (-5 since a similar Research Co. survey conducted in December 2021) and 32% of Quebecers (+2) say their respective provinces would be better off as independent countries.

Support for outright sovereignty is lower among residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (28%, +10), Ontario (25%, +2), Atlantic Canada (21%, +7) and British Columbia (19%, +3).

“Expressed support for separation has diminished in Alberta over the past six months, but remains the highest in Canada,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “In Quebec, with a provincial election looming, support for sovereignty has risen slightly.”

Across the country, 17% of Canadians (-1) think their province would be better off joining the United States and becoming an American state.

In Alberta, the proportion of residents who express a preference for joining the United States has dropped markedly, from 25% in December 2021 to 14% in June 2022.

A majority of Canadians (51%, +2) think their province would be better off with a different Prime Minister in charge.

Residents of Alberta are more likely to believe that their province would benefit from having a different head of government in Ottawa (64%, -1). The proportions are lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (60%, +4), British Columbia (53%, =), Atlantic Canada (52%, +14), Ontario (48%, -1) and Quebec (45%, +3).

Canadians aged 55 and over are more likely to believe that their province would be better off under a different Prime Minister (52%) than their counterparts aged 18-to-34 (50%) and aged 35-to-54 (49%).

More than half of Canadians (51%, =) say their province would be better off with a different premier in charge.

Almost two thirds of Albertans (65%, -8) would prefer to have a different person in charge of the provincial government right now. The rating is significantly lower in Quebec (48%, =), Ontario (43%, -14) and British Columbia (41%, +6).

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

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%).

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-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

Russia is Now the Least-Liked Country for Canadians

May 31, 2022January 16, 2023By Mario Canseco

Vancouver, BC [May 31, 2022] – Few Canadians are expressing a favourable view of the Russian Federation, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, only 12% of Canadians have a positive opinion of Russia, while 77% hold negative views and 10% are undecided.

“Negative opinions on Russia are extremely high among Canadians aged 55 and over (87%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Sizeable majorities of Canadians aged 35-to-54 (76%) and aged 18-to-34 (69%) convey similar feelings.”

Positive perceptions of the Russian Federation have dropped by 12 points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in December 2021. Russia is now the least-liked of the 15 countries included in this tracking survey, below North Korea (13%, -1) and Iran (16%, =).

In a separate Research Co. poll conducted in February, only 1% of Canadians thought that the Canadian government should support the Russian Federation in what were then the early stages of an international crisis involving Ukraine.

Only one-in-five Canadians (20%, =) hold favourable views on China. The rating is higher for Saudi Arabia (24%, +1), Venezuela (31%, +3) and India (37%, =).

While 30% of Canadians aged 18-to-34 have a positive opinion of China, the rating falls to 21% among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 and to 10% among those aged 55 and over.

More than seven-in-ten Canadians have a favourable view of the United Kingdom (73%, +2) and Italy (73%, +4). More than two thirds also express positive opinions on Germany (70%, +1), Japan (69%, =) and France (69%, +1).

More than half of Canadians (56%, +6) express a favourable view of the United States. The rating is slightly lower for Canada’s other free trade partner in North America, Mexico (50%, +5).

Only 48% of British Columbians hold a positive opinion of the United States. The rating is higher in Quebec (54%), Atlantic Canada (57%), Alberta (also 57%), Ontario (59%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (60%).

Seven-in-ten Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in the 2021 federal election (70%) hold favourable views on the United States. The numbers are slightly lower among those who cast ballots for the Liberal Party (66%) but drop markedly among those who supported the New Democratic Party (NDP) (43%).

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

Canadians Hold Mixed Views on End of Pandemic Regulations

May 20, 2022August 3, 2022By Mario Canseco

COVID-19 infections have hit almost one-in-four Canadian households since the end of restrictions and mandates.

Vancouver, BC [May 20, 2022] – While almost half of Canadians endorse the decision to abandon all regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than two-in-five believe the call was made too soon, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 49% of Canadians believe COVID-19 restrictions and mandates were “definitely” or “probably” lifted at the right time in their community, while 43% think they were lifted too early.

At least half of residents of Ontario (52%) and Alberta (50%) believe restrictions and mandates came to an end at the right time. The proportions are lower in British Columbia (49%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 49%), Quebec (47%) and Atlantic Canada (44%).

Almost one-in-four Canadians (23%) report that either themselves or someone else in their household became infected with COVID-19 after restrictions and mandates were lifted in their community—a proportion that rises to 36% among those aged 18-to-34 and to 27% among Quebecers.

“More than half of Canadians who endured a COVID-19 infection after restrictions and mandates were lifted (52%) feel that this decision was taken too soon,” says Mario Canseco. “Still, 42% of these respondents believe the regulations were halted at the correct time.”

Just over three-in-five Canadians (61%) say they would be satisfied if proof of vaccination was required once again in the future to go to restaurants or public events. Higher proportions of Canadians would be satisfied if two other restrictions and mandates returned: a reduction of capacity at venues (such as cinemas, theatres, concert halls and sports arenas) (64%) and having to wear a mask or face covering when entering an indoor premise (68%).

A majority of Canadians (52%) state that, as long as people are vaccinated, COVID-19 is a minor nuisance. This includes 58% of those who have experienced the virus personally or in their household after the end of restrictions and mandates.

Larger proportions of Canadians agree that it’s only a matter of time before everyone catches COVID-19 (59%) and expect to be vaccinated against the virus at least once again in the next six months (60%).

Compared to a similar Research Co. survey conducted in April, fewer Canadians (45%, -11) say are “anxious” about the end of COVID-19 restrictions and mandates in their community.

This month, there are also marked drops in the proportion of Canadians who, over the course of the next two weeks, intend to continue wearing a mask or face covering when entering an indoor premise (54%, -6) or every time they leave their home (35%, -10).

Two thirds of Canadians (66%, +8) are planning to visit relatives or friends in person in the next fortnight. In addition, more than half of Canadians will have dinner (52%, +6) or lunch (51%, +8) at a sit-down restaurant in the same span.

Canadians are also more likely to be planning a visit to the theatre or cinema (27%, +5), to a live concert (17%, +6) and to a live sporting event (14%, +3) than last month.

Travel plans are also on the rise, with 30% of Canadians (+8) intending to take a trip by car for an overnight stay in the next two weeks, while 16% (+3) are considering a trip by airplane.

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

Few Canadians Think Marital Infidelity is Morally Acceptable

May 17, 2022May 17, 2022By Mario Canseco

Across Canada, the moral acceptability of gambling and physician assisted death dropped since 2021.

Vancouver, BC [May 17, 2022] – Only one-in-six Canadians have no moral qualms about the existence of infidelity in a marriage, 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.”

Only 16% of Canadians think married men and/or women having an affair is morally acceptable, down two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in April 2021.

“Across Canada, more than one-in-five men (22%) think affairs involving married persons are morally acceptable,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Only 10% of Canadian women share the same view.”

More than two thirds of Canadians think four other issues are morally acceptable: contraception (75%, -1), divorce (73%, -4), sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman (69%, -3) and having a baby outside of marriage (also 69%, =).

More than half of Canadians believe sexual relations between two people of the same sex (59%, -3), abortion (55%, -2) and medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos (also 55%, =) are morally acceptable. The proportions are lower for four other issues: pornography (31%, =), prostitution (30%, -3), polygamy (19%, =), cloning humans (12%, =) and paedophilia (4%, -1).

On issues related to animals, more than a third of Canadians (36%, -2) say buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur is morally acceptable, while fewer feel the same way about medical testing on animals (25%, +1) and cloning animals (19%, =).

Two-in-five Canadians (40%, -1) believe the death penalty is morally acceptable. Significantly fewer hold similar views on using illegal drugs (18%, -2) and suicide (also 18%, =).

Just over three-in-five Canadians (61%, -4) consider physician-assisted death as morally acceptable. Canadians aged 55 and over are more likely to feel this way (66%) than those aged 35-to-54 (58%) and aged 18-to-34 (57%).

Canadians of European descent are significantly more likely to say that physician-assisted death is morally acceptable (71%) than their counterparts whose origins are East Asian (49%) and South Asian (38%).

Just over half of Canadians (52%, -5) think gambling is morally acceptable.

Quebec is the only province where fewer than half of residents (48%) refer to gambling as morally acceptable. The proportions are higher in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (51%), Alberta and Ontario (each at 53%), Atlantic Canada (54%) and British Columbia (58%).

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

More Canadians Are Having Dinner in Front of the Television Set

May 13, 2022May 12, 2022By Mario Canseco

Practically three-in-five Canadians spend anywhere from 31 to 60 minutes preparing dinner on an average weekday.

Vancouver, BC [May 13, 2022] – Most of Canada’s evening meals occur in a setting that is not the dining room and with electronic entertainment, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, Canadians report that 45% of their dinners at home in the past month took place at the dining room with no television, down six points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in June 2019. A majority of dinners (55%, +6) happened at a different part of the home, with the television on.

In Quebec, 50% of dinners at home in the past month occurred away from the dining room and with the television on. The proportion rises to 53% in British Columbia, 54% in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 56% in Ontario, 58% in Atlantic Canada and 62% in Alberta.

Canadians aged 18-to-34 are having fewer evening meals away from the dining room (51%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (56%) and aged 55 and over (57%).

Three-in-ten Canadians (30%, -6 since a Research Co. survey conducted in June 2020) say they spend less than 30 minutes preparing dinner for themselves and others in their household on an average weekday.

Almost three-in-five Canadians (59%, +3) say making dinner on an average weekday takes anywhere from 31 to 60 minutes, while 11% (+3) require more than one hour to prepare food.

“A third of Ontarians, Quebecers and Albertans (33% each) manage to make dinner in less than half an hour,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Fewer residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (30%), British Columbia (26%) and Atlantic Canada (23%) can consistently manage this feat.”

Across the country, 65% of Canadians (unchanged) say they are “very familiar” or “moderately familiar” with Canada’s Food Guide. Awareness is lowest among Canadians aged 55 and over (56%) and rises among those aged 18-to-34 (70%) and those aged 35-to-54 (71%).

Fewer than three-in-five residents of British Columbia (58%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (59%) are familiar with Canada’s Food Guide. The proportion is higher in Quebec (64%), Alberta (65%), Ontario (68%) and Atlantic Canada (71%).

Just over a third of Canadians (35%, -6) rely on the recommendations of Canada’s Food Guide “all the time” or “most of the time” when choosing what they eat in an average week.

Women are more likely to review the recommendations of Canada’s Food Guide when deciding what to prepare (40%) than men (32%).

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 Reluctant to Re-Open Debate on Abortion

May 9, 2022May 8, 2022By Mario Canseco

More than two-in-five Canadians believe the practice should continue to be legal under any circumstances.

Vancouver, BC [May 9, 2022] – More than half of Canadians believe the country should steer clear of starting a new argument about abortion, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 53% of Canadians think there is no point in re-opening a debate about abortion in Canada right now, down five points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in September 2020.

Just over one-in-four Canadians (26%, +1) believe a debate about abortion is long overdue in Canada and the discussion should be re-opened, while 21% (+4) are undecided.

Three-in-ten Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in the 2021 federal election (30%) believe the time is right for a new conversation about abortion in Canada. The proportion is lower among those who supported the New Democratic Party (NDP) (26%) and the Liberal Party (24%) in last year’s ballot.

When asked about abortion, 44% of Canadians (-4) think it should be legal under any circumstances, while 37% (+1) believe the practice should be legal only under certain circumstances. Only 10% of Canadians (+2) believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.

“A significant gender gap persists in Canada on the issue of abortion,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “While 49% of women in Canada think the practice should be legal under any circumstances, only 39% of men share the same view.”

On a regional basis, support for legal abortion under any circumstances is highest in Quebec (50%), followed by Saskatchewan and Manitoba (47%), British Columbia (46%), Atlantic Canada (43%), Alberta (40%) and Ontario (39%).

Canadians who voted for the New Democrats in 2021 are more likely to endorse the concept of legal abortion under any circumstances (57%) than those who cast ballots for the Liberals (48%).

More than half of Canadians who supported the Conservatives in last year’s federal ballot (54%) believe abortion should be legal only under certain circumstances. About one third (32%) think the practice should be legal under any circumstances, while 9% say it should be illegal in all circumstances.

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

Credit and Debit Cards Relied Upon for Most Payments in Canada

May 6, 2022May 6, 2022By Mario Canseco

Most Canadians say that lack of cash compelled them to make a small purchase with their credit or debit card in the last month.

Vancouver, BC [May 6, 2022] – Canadians are currently using cash for transactions at a higher rate than during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but most payments continue to be made through alternative methods, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, Canadians relied on a credit card or a smartphone to finalize 46% of their purchases over the past month, down four points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in May 2020.

One third of purchases from Canadians (33%, -2) were completed with a debit card or e-transfer, while 3% (-9) entailed the use of a cheque. Cash was used for the remaining 18% of transactions (+15).

“Credit cards are the main form of payment for residents of British Columbia (58%) and Quebec (50%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The debit card is the preferred option for residents of Ontario (47%) and Alberta (43%).”

More than three-in-five Canadians (63%) say that, over the course of the past month, there was a time when they did not have any paper money with them and had to make a small purchase (less than $10) with their credit or debit card.

While 50% of Canadians aged 55 and over were caught without paper money in the past month, the proportion rises to 64% among those aged 35-to-54 and to 77% among those aged 18-to-34.

Half of Canadians (50%, -8) expect people to rely on biometrics (such as iris scans, fingerprints or palm recognition) to complete purchases at some point within the next 10 years.

Albertans are more likely to predict the introduction of biometric payments in the next 10 years (60%). Belief in this vision becoming reality is lower in Ontario (52%), Quebec (50%), British Columbia (also 50%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (43%) and Atlantic Canada (37%).

Almost half of Canadians (49%, +14) say they would not like to see people utilizing biometrics to buy things in their lifetimes. Just under two-in-five (39%, -11) would welcome this development, and 12% (-3) are undecided.

Men (43%), Canadians aged 18-to-34 (49%), Albertans (also 49%) and Quebecers (44%) are more likely to wish for the opportunity to make payments through biometrics in the future.

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 Agree with Nationwide “Conversion Therapy” Ban

April 29, 2022April 29, 2022By Mario Canseco

Strong majorities of residents of all regions are in favour of the legislation that came into effect in January 2022.

Vancouver, BC [April 29, 2022] – The recently enacted prohibition of the practice of “conversion therapy” is endorsed by more than three-in-five Canadians, a new Research Co. poll has found.

Proponents of “conversion therapy” believe that individuals who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse, queer, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2+) can be “converted” into heterosexuals through psychological or spiritual intervention.

Legislation that came into effect in January 2022 makes it illegal to promote, advertise, or profit from providing “conversion therapy”, or to subject a person, consenting or not, to “conversion therapy” in Canada.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 62% of Canadians agree with “conversion therapy” being illegal in Canada, while 21% disagree and 17% are undecided.

Support for the nationwide ban on “conversion therapy” is highest in Atlantic Canada (66%), followed by British Columbia (64%), Ontario (63%), Alberta (62%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (61%) and Quebec (57%).

“At least seven-in-ten Canadians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) (71%) and the Liberal Party (70%) in the last federal election are in favour of the new guidelines,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “They are joined by a majority of those who supported the Conservative Party in 2021 (57%).”

Most Canadians (57%, +2 since a similar Research Co poll conducted in November 2020) continue to believe that individuals who identify themselves as LGBTQ2+ cannot be “converted” into heterosexuals through psychological or spiritual intervention. This includes 69% of Atlantic Canadians, 63% of Canadians aged 55 and over and 60% of women.

Compared to 2020, there is little fluctuation when Canadians are asked about the legal recognition of same-sex couples in the country.

Two thirds of Canadians (66%, -1) believe same-sex couples should continue to be allowed to legally marry. Significantly fewer side with the notion of same-sex couples being allowed to form civil unions and not marry (12%, =) or not granting any kind of legal recognition to same-sex couples (10%, =).

More than two-in-five Canadians (42%, +3) think people are born as LGBTQ2+. However, 28% (=) believe people choose to be LGBTQ2+, while 31% (-2) are not sure.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from April 16 to April 18, 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 Are Vaping More Now Than in 2020

April 26, 2022April 25, 2022By Mario Canseco

While most Canadians agree with the federal regulations that have been in place since 2018, support is not as strong this year.

Vancouver, BC [April 22, 2022] – The proportion of Canadians who have used an electronic cigarette or e-cigarette has increased in the past two years, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 17% of Canadians say they have vaped in the past 12 months, up seven points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in September 2020.

Vaping remains more popular among Canadians aged 18-to-34 (26%) than among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (18%) and aged 55 and over (7%).

On a regional basis, British Columbia is at the top of the list when it comes to vaping (21%), followed by Atlantic Canada (18%), Quebec (also 18%), Ontario (16%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (15%) and Alberta (12%).

Current regulations related to vaping were implemented in May 2018, after Bill S-5—an overhaul of the Tobacco Act—was approved by the House of Commons and the Senate.

Across the country, more than four-in-five Canadians (82%, -4) agree with prohibiting the sale of vaping products to minors.

Almost two thirds of Canadians are also in favour of two other current measures: restricting any reference to e-cigarettes as healthier than standard tobacco products (65%, -12) and restricting the use of testimonials and “lifestyle” advertising for vaping products (64%, -11).

A majority of Canadians (58%, -11) agree with banning certain flavours of vaping products, such as cannabis and “confectionery.”

“The rise in vaping across Canada is accompanied by a drop in support for some of the measures introduced by the federal government in 2018,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “There are double-digit drops in the level of agreement with advertising and flavouring guidelines.”

More than four-in-five Canadians (82%, -4) think vaping products that contain nicotine should display a warning, similar to the one used for tobacco products, while just over seven-in-ten (71%, -8) would ban the use of e-cigarettes in public places where smoking is currently prohibited.

Half of Canadians (50%, -6) would not consider dating a person who vapes—including 52% of men, 59% of Canadians aged 55 and over and 55% of Ontarians.

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 Call for Public Inquiry into COVID-19 Response

April 22, 2022May 23, 2022By Mario Canseco

The proportion of Canadians who are “anxious” about the end of pandemic restrictions and mandates increased to 56%.

Vancouver, BC [April 22, 2022] – A majority of Canadians believe a thorough review of the performance of various levels of government during the COVID-19 pandemic is warranted, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample, 66% of Canadians support holding a public inquiry into the way the COVID-19 pandemic was managed by the federal government, while 23% are opposed and 12% are undecided.

The Government of the United Kingdom has announced a public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic. The terms of reference intend to cover preparedness, the public health response, the response in the health care sector and the economic response.

Canadians who voted for the Liberal Party in the 2021 federal election are more likely to endorse the call for a public inquiry into Ottawa’s pandemic management (77%) than those who voted for the Conservative Party (67%) and the New Democratic Party (NDP) (66%).

More than three-in-five Canadians believe that public inquiries into the way COVID-19 was handled by their provincial governments (64%) and their municipal governments (61%) are in order.

“More than two thirds of residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (70%) and Ontario (68%) are in favour of holding a public inquiry into how their provincial governments managed the pandemic,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Support is slightly lower in Quebec (64%), British Columbia (61%), Alberta (also 61%) and Atlantic Canada (59%).”

This month, 82% of residents (+1 since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in March 2022) believe COVID-19 is a real threat. In addition, 62% of Canadians (-10) believe that the worst of COVID-19 is “behind us”.

Satisfaction with the way the federal government is handling the pandemic fell by four points to 57%. The rating is exactly the same for provincial administrations across Canada (57%, +1) and slightly higher for municipal governments (60% =).

Among the four most populous provinces, satisfaction is highest in British Columbia (61%, -2) and Ontario (also 61%, +4), followed by Quebec (59%, -4) and Alberta (37%, =).

There is little movement on the satisfaction of Canadians with the performance of the federal chief public health officer (61%, -2) and their provincial health officer or chief medical officer (60%, -1).

Most Canadians (56%) acknowledge feeling “very anxious” or “moderately anxious” about the end of COVID-19 restrictions and mandates in their community, up four points since a similar Research Co. survey conducted in March 2022.

Three-in-five Canadians (60%, -5) plan to continue wearing a mask or face covering when entering an indoor premise in the next fortnight, while 45% (=) will do so every time they leave their home.

The proportion of Canadians who intend to visit relatives or friends in person over the next two weeks remains at 58%. Just over two-in-five Canadians are planning to have dinner (44%, -1) or lunch (43%, +4) at a sit-down restaurant in the next fortnight.

Fewer than one-in-four Canadians are planning to attend the theatre or cinema (22%, +1), a live sporting event as a spectator (11%, =) or a live concert as a spectator (also 11%, +2).

While 22% of Canadians are planning to travel by car for an overnight stay in the next two weeks, only 13% are currently willing to travel by airplane.

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 Question Their Public Speaking Capabilities

April 15, 2022April 14, 2022By Mario Canseco

A majority (51%) feel anxious when they have to make a phone call to a person they do not know.

Vancouver, BC [April 15, 2022] – Many Canadians are not particularly confident about their ability to address an audience publicly, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 44% of Canadians say they would have no problem giving a speech in front of other people. More than half (52%) disagree with this assessment.

Across the country, 51% of Canadians say they feel anxious when they have to make a phone call to a person they do not know—a proportion that rises to 57% among women and 61% among Canadians aged 18-to-34.

Canadians are divided when pondering text messages and emails, with 46% finding this form of communication impersonal and 47% disagreeing with this point of view.

“A majority of Canadians aged 55 and over (55%) brand electronic communications as impersonal,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion is lower among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (46%) and aged 18-to-34 (36%).”

The survey asked Canadians about their preferred mode of communication for various tasks. More than four-in-five Canadians (82%) say they would end a relationship with someone in person. Only 7% of Canadians would break up by sending a text message, including 11% of those aged 18-to-34.

Almost three-in-four Canadians (73%) say they would prefer to quit a job in person, but 15% would do so by sending an email, including 18% of women and 24% of Canadians aged 18-to-34.

Canadians are evenly divided on the best way to order food delivery to their home, with identical proportions choosing to make a phone call (39%) or use an app (also 39%).

While a majority of Canadians aged 18-to-34 (53%) would rely on an app to manage food delivery, the proportion drops slightly to 47% among those aged 35-to-54 and falls to 20% among those aged 55 and over.

Canadians who live in Alberta (50%) and Ontario (49%) are more likely to prefer to use an app to order food delivery than their counterparts in British Columbia (44%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (43%), Quebec (26%) and Atlantic Canada (18%).

More than a third of Canadians (37%) say they would make a phone call if they had to ask a question to their bank, while a smaller proportion (32%) would visit in person. Significantly fewer Canadians prefer an email (15%), an app (11%) or a text message (5%) for this particular task.

If Canadians had to ask a question to their municipality or City Hall, almost two-in-five (39%) would send an email, while one third (33%) would place a phone call and one-in-five (20%) would schedule a meeting in person.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from April 1 to April 3, 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 plus or minus 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