Canada – Page 22 – Research Co.

Canadians Express a Preference for Prince William as Next King

March 7, 2019June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

Only one-in-five would rather have Prince Charles as King, and just over two-in-five view the heir apparent favourably.

Vancouver, BC [March 7, 2019] – If presented with a choice to select the next monarch, a considerable proportion of Canadians would prefer to have the Duke of Cambridge as King, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 41% of Canadians say they would rather see Prince William becoming King, while 20% would prefer Prince Charles.

One third of Canadian men (33%) would like to have Prince William as the next monarch, while 22% select Prince Charles. The gap is more extreme among Canadian women (50% in favour of Prince William, and 18% in favour of Prince Charles).

Three members of the Royal Family have the highest levels of favourability across Canada: Queen Elizabeth II (71%), Prince William (also 71%) and Prince Harry (70%).

A majority of Canadians also express favourable views of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (68%), Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (60%) and Prince Philip (54%).

In contrast, only 43% of Canadians have a favourable opinion of Prince Charles and 32% feel the same way about Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

When asked about Canada’s constitution, 31% of Canadians say Canada should remain a monarchy, while 33% believe Canada should have an elected head of state. One-in-five (19%) do not care either way and 17% are undecided.

Support for Canada having an elected head of state is highest in Quebec (53%), while residents of Atlantic Canada and Alberta are the most likely to call for the continuation of the monarchy (42% and 40% respectively).

“Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in the last federal election are significantly more likely to endorse the monarchy (41%), while those who supported the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2015 express a preference for an elected head of state (42%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Liberal voters are almost evenly divided when asked about this issue.”

Across the country, 56% of residents expect Canada to “definitely” or “probably” still be a monarchy twenty years from now, while 23% think the country will “definitely” or “probably” have an elected head of state.

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from February 21 to February 24, 2019, 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 full data set here and download the press release here.

Photo Credit: Diliff

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Canadians Say “No, Thanks” to Buying Montana from U.S.

February 28, 2019June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

Albertans and Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to give the thumbs up to a prospective purchase.

Vancouver, BC [February 28, 2019] – A majority of Canadians reject the notion of purchasing a bordering American state as was recently suggested in an online petition, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 56% of Canadians think the federal government should not consider purchasing Montana for $1 trillion.

The online petition—initiated in the United States—is calling on Americans to sign in support of selling the State of Montana to Canada for $1 trillion U.S., in order to eliminate the national debt in the U.S.

The highest level of support for Canada’s eventual purchase of Montana is observed among men (32%), Canadians aged 18-to-34 (41%) and residents of Alberta (37%) and Manitoba and Saskatchewan (34%).

“We have many issues where there are glaring differences across party lines,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “But when it comes to giving consideration to the purchase of Montana, similar proportions of Conservative (30%), Liberal (28%) and New Democratic Party (NDP) (26%) voters are in agreement.”

Methodology:

Find our full data set here and download the press release here.

Photo Credit: Robert M. Russell

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Half of Canadians Would Welcome Biometrics to Make Purchases

February 21, 2019June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

Only 8% believe the technology will be available sometime in the next 10 years.

Vancouver, BC [February 21, 2019] – A significant proportion of Canadians would be comfortable with the use of biometrics (such as fingerprints, palm recognition or iris scans) to pay for things, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 49% of Canadians say they “definitely” or “probably” would like to see people relying on biometrics to make purchases, while two-in-five (40%) would not and 11% are not sure.

“Canadian Men (57%) and Millennials (54%) are definitely more likely to endorse biometrics at this stage,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “There is also a higher craving for this type of technology from Quebecers (66%) and Albertans (55%).”

However, two-in-five Canadians (40%) say they do not expect biometric payments to materialize in the next 20 years, and 15% foresee that they will never be available.

When asked about the way they currently pay for things, Canadians rely on a combination of sources. One third of payments (34%) involve a debit card, followed by cash (31%) and credit cards (24%).

Across the country, 8% of all transactions are conducted through a smartphone—a proportion that climbs to 18% among Canadians aged 18-to-34—and 3% are done with a cheque.

Residents of Atlantic Canada (39%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (37%) and Alberta (also 37%) rely more heavily on debit cards than those in other parts of the country.

Seven-in-ten Canadians (70%) report that there was a time in the past month when they did not have any actual money (coins or bills) on them and had to use their credit card, debit card or smartphone to make a purchase of less than $10.

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from February 2 to February 5, 2019, 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 full data set 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 Would Exclude Huawei from Future 5G Networks

February 12, 2019June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

A majority agrees with the way Canadian authorities have acted in the Meng Wanzhou case.

Vancouver, BC [February 12, 2019] – Many Canadians are concerned about the possible involvement of Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei in the development of the country’s 5G (or “Fifth Generation”) mobile networks, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 57% of Canadians think the federal government should not allow Huawei to participate in 5G.

On a regional basis, British Columbia has the highest level of rejection for Huawei’s involvement in 5G (73%), followed by Ontario (62%) and Alberta (57%).

The federal government is currently reviewing the guidelines for the development of 5G mobile networks, which are expected to provide Canadians with larger data capacity and faster connections.

In December, Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver. Meng faces charges in the United States—including bank fraud and obstruction of justice—and the U.S. has formally requested her extradition.

Across Canada, 43% of respondents say they have been following media stories related to Meng’s arrest “very closely” or “moderately closely.”

More than three-in-five Canadians (63%) say they agree with the way Canadian authorities have acted in this case, while 25% disagree and 12% are undecided.

Support for Canada’s actions is highest among women (67%), residents aged 55 and over (73%) and Liberal Party voters in the 2015 federal election (76%).

“Most Canadians approve of the decisions that the federal government has taken on this file,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Most are also wary of enabling Huawei to play a role in Canada’s future telecommunications networks.”

More than half of Canadians (57%) think Canada should not work to establish closer ties with China—a proportion that includes majorities of those who voted for the Conservative Party (62%) and the New Democratic Party (NDP) (55%) in the last federal ballot.

Methodology:

Find our full data set here and download the press release here.

Photo Credit: Raysonho

Canadians Express Lukewarm Support for Multiculturalism

February 8, 2019June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

Two-in-five Canadians think that racism has become a more significant problem in Canada over the past two years.

Vancouver, BC [February 8, 2019] – Many Canadians are tepid supporters of the concept of multiculturalism and a sizeable proportion is expressing concerns about racism, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 62% of Canadians think multiculturalism has been “very good” or “good” for Canada, while 33% believe the policy has been “bad” or “very bad”.

“Strong endorsement for multiculturalism stands at roughly the same level as strong rejection (13% and 14% respectively),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Most Canadians feel the policy has been positive, but few of them are willing to say it has been overwhelmingly beneficial.”

Across the country, 41% of Canadians believe racism has become a more significant problem over the past two years.

Residents of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are the most likely to believe racism is on the rise (55%), while only 37% of Quebecers concur with this assessment.

When asked to select between two different policies, almost half of Canadians (49%) say that Canada should be a “melting pot” and want immigrants to assimilate and blend into Canadian society.

A smaller proportion of respondents (42%) think that Canada should be a “mosaic” and say cultural differences within Canadian society are valuable and should be preserved.

Men (53%), Quebecers (also 53%), respondents aged 55 and over (61%) and Conservative Party voters in the 2015 federal election (62%) are more likely to express a preference for the “melting pot”.

Conversely, Canadians aged 18-to-34 (60%), British Columbians (52%) and those who voted for the Liberal Party (59%) or the New Democratic Party (NDP) (56%) in the last federal ballot endorse the concept of the “mosaic.”

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from January 14 to January 17, 2019, 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 full data set here and download the press release here.

Photo Credit: Drfunko

Canadians Hold Mixed Views on the Benefits of Immigration

February 5, 2019June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

Two-in-five Canadians aged 35-to-54 would reduce the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to relocate in Canada.

Vancouver, BC [February 5, 2019] – A plurality of Canadians regard immigration in a positive light, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, almost half of Canadians (46%) think immigration is having a mostly positive effect in Canada, including more than half of Quebecers (52%) and Atlantic Canadians (51%).

Conversely, 36% of Canadians believe immigration is having a mostly negative effect in the country, including 42% of Albertans.

“The way in which Canadians currently feel about immigration is related to age,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “While sizeable proportions of residents aged 18-to-34 (55%) and 55 and over (46%) hold positive views, the proportion drops among those aged 35-to-54 (39%).”

While one-in-five Canadians (20%) would increase the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to relocate in Canada, 35% would keep the same levels and 36% call for a decrease.

Canadians aged 35-to-54 are the most likely to urge for a reduction in the number of legal immigrants to Canada (40%) and the least likely to believe an increase is warranted (15%).

A majority of Canadians (55%) believe the hard work and talent of immigrants makes Canada better, while two-in-five (39%) disagree—including 46% of British Columbians.

Half of Canadians (50%) believe immigrants should only be allowed in Canada if they adopt Canadian values—a proportion that rises significantly among Albertans (61%) and residents aged 55 and over (62%).

Methodology:

Find our full data set here and download the press release here.

Wait Times, Red Tape Are Main Health Care Snags for Canadians

January 30, 2019June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

Four-in-five Canadians are confident that medical services will be there if they were to need them unexpectedly.

Vancouver, BC [January 30, 2019] – More than half of Canadians identify two issues as the main glitches facing the country’s health care system, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, a third of Canadians (33%) identify long wait times as the biggest problem facing the health care system, while one-in-four (24%) mention bureaucracy and poor management.

A shortage of doctors and nurses is third on the list with 18%, followed by little focus on preventive care (9%), inadequate resources and facilities (5%), lack of a wider range of services for patients (3%) and insufficient standards of hygiene (also 3%).

“There are some significant regional differences when it comes to the perceptions of Canadians on what needs to be fixed about the health care system,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Albertans and Quebecers are decidedly more critical on management, while Atlantic Canadians are more concerned about a lack of physicians.”

Across the country, four-in-five Canadians (79%) say they are “very confident” (25%) or “moderately confident” (54%) that Canada’s health care system would be there to provide the help and assistance they would need if they faced an unexpected medical condition or disease.

Canadians aged 55 and over are more likely to express confidence in the health care system (86%) than those aged 18-to-34 (79%) and those aged 35-to-54 (75%).

One-in-four Canadians (25%) think the health care system works well and only minor changes are needed to make it work better, while three-in-five (60%) believe there are some good things in Canada’s health care system, but many changes are required.

Just over one-in-seven Canadians (13%) believe the health care system has so much wrong with it that it needs to be completely rebuilt—a proportion that reaches 20% in Quebec and 16% in Alberta.

Three-in-four Canadians (74%) are opposed to the notion of the federal government making cuts to health care funding in order to reduce government debt.

When asked if health care in Canada would be better than it is now if it were run by the private sector, a majority of Canadians (57%) disagree with the idea, while two-in-five (39%) are in agreement.

On a regional basis, two thirds of Quebecers (66%) assert that the private sector would do a better job delivering health care in Canada. In no other region of the country does this idea garner the backing of more than 40% of residents.

Methodology:

Find our full data set here and download the press release here.

Photo Credit: Citobun

Most Canadians Would Ban Smoking in Multi-Family Buildings

January 17, 2019July 27, 2020By Mario Canseco

Agreement with existing regulations on smoking in public spaces and private vehicles is also high.

Vancouver, BC [January 17, 2019] – Most Canadians are in favour of prohibiting residents of apartment buildings and condominiums from smoking, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, seven-in-ten Canadians (72%) support banning smoking (tobacco and marijuana) in multi-family buildings, while one-in-four (25%) are opposed.

The highest level of support for the ban is observed among women (74%), Canadians aged 55 and over (also 74%), Quebecers (75%) and British Columbians (74%).

More than two thirds of Canadians (69%) agree with the federal government’s decision to implement plain and standardized tobacco packaging. This was one of several areas covered by Bill C-5, which also established guidelines for vaping products.

Practically nine-in-ten Canadians (89%) agree with banning smoking in indoor public spaces, public transit facilities and workplaces (including restaurants, bars and casinos).

In addition, three-in-four Canadians (76%) agree with banning smoking in private vehicles occupied by children.

“The regulations that have been in place for years to deal with smoking across Canada remain popular,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “There is a high level of support for bringing multi-family dwellings to the list of places where people should not be allowed to smoke.”

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from January 2 to January 4, 2019, 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 full data set here and download the press release here.

Almost One-in-Five Canadians Say Global Warming is a Theory

January 3, 2019June 8, 2019By Mario Canseco

Half of Canadians say the federal government is paying “the right amount” of attention to the environment.

Vancouver, BC [January 4, 2019] – A large majority of Canadians believe in human-made climate change, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, three-in-five Canadians (60%) think global warming (or climate change) is a fact and is mostly caused by emissions from vehicles and industrial facilities.

An additional 15% of Canadians think global warming is a fact and is mostly caused by natural changes.

Almost one-in-five respondents (18%) refer to global warming as a theory that has not yet been proven—a proportion that includes 22% of Canadians aged 55 and over and 36% of those who voted for the Conservative Party in the 2015 federal election.

Across the country, two thirds of Canadians (66%) say it is more important to them to protect the environment, even at the risk of hampering economic growth.

A significantly smaller proportion of respondents (22%) say they would prefer to foster economic growth, even at the risk of damaging the environment.

“Political allegiance plays a big role in the struggle between environmental stewardship and economic development,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “While more than three-in-five Canadians who voted for the Liberals or the New Democrats in 2015 believe environmental protection is paramount, the proportion falls to 47% among Conservative voters.”

Half of Canadians (50%) think the current federal government is paying the right amount of attention to the environment, including 59% of Liberal voters.

Conversely, 31% of Canadians believe Ottawa is not paying enough attention to the environment, including 40% of New Democrat voters in 2015.

About one-in-six Canadians (14%) think the federal government is paying too much attention to the environment, including 43% of Conservative voters.

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from December 17 to December 20, 2018, 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 full data set here and download the press release here.

One-in-Four Canadians Expect a Stressful Holiday Season

December 24, 2018June 8, 2019By Mario Canseco

“Merry Christmas” is the overwhelming favourite greeting for the season.

Vancouver, BC [December 24, 2018] – While most Canadians are anticipating a blissful holiday season, there are some who are expecting more anxiety than merriment, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, a majority of Canadians (57%) say they foresee a holiday season that will be “more fun than stressful”, but one-in-four (25%) say they expect it to be “more stressful than fun.”

Residents of British Columbia and Quebec are the most likely to say they will enjoy a holiday season that is “more fun than stressful” (70% and 60% respectively).

In Alberta, residents are almost evenly divided: 45% expect more fun than stress, while 43% believe there will be more stress than fun.

Three-in-four Canadians (74%) say their preferred greeting for the season is Merry Christmas, while a significantly smaller proportion (14%) choose Happy Holidays.

“Affinity to Merry Christmas increases with age,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “On a regional basis, fewer than one-in-twenty Albertans express a preference for Happy Holidays.”

Across the country, more than a third of Canadians (38%) say religion is “very important” or “moderately important” to their daily lives, while three-in-five (62%) say it is “not too important” or “not important at all.”

Almost half of Canadians aged 55 and over (46%) say religion is important in their daily life, a proportion that drops to 40% among those aged 35-to-54 and 29% among those aged 18-to-34.

Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are way ahead of the Canadian average when it comes to the importance of religion (60%). Ontario and Atlantic Canada are second (43% each), followed by Alberta (42%, Quebec (30%) and British Columbia (25%).

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from December 3 to December 6, 2018, 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 full data set here and download the press release here.

Only One-in-Ten Canadians Will Spend More This Holiday Season

December 13, 2018June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

Residents are evenly split on whether they prefer actual gifts from people or cards they can use to choose whatever they want.

Vancouver, BC [December 13, 2018] – While a considerable proportion of Canadians say they are in a more fortunate economic situation compared to last year, few of them are in a more generous mood this holiday season, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, more than one-in-four Canadians (27%) say they are better off financially than they were last year, while half (49%) say the situation has not changed and one-in-five (22%) say they are worse off.

Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to say they are in a more fortunate economic situation this year (44%) than those aged 35-to-54 (24%) and those aged 55 and over (15%).

When asked about how much they think they will allocate to gifts this holiday season, only 11% of Canadians say they plan to spend more, while almost half (47%) foresee no changes and two-in-five (39%) say they will spend less.

“There are some staggering regional differences on holiday expenditures in Canada,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Residents of Western provinces are more likely to say they will devote more money to gifts this year than those in Eastern provinces.”

More than a quarter of Ontarians (28%), Quebecers (26%) and Atlantic Canadians (31%) say they are better off financially this year, but fewer than one-in-ten in each of these regions plan to spend more on gifts in 2018.

In Ontario, 44% of residents say they will spend less on gifts this year than they did in 2017—the highest proportion in the country.

When asked about possible holiday gifts they may receive this year, Canadians are deeply divided. Across the country, 48% say they prefer to receive gifts someone chose for them, while 47% would rather get a gift card they can use to choose what they want.

Residents of British Columbia are the most likely to prefer actual gifts to cards (54%), followed by those in Ontario (50%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (47%), Quebec (45%), Atlantic Canada (also 45%) and Alberta (43%).

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from November 24 to November 25, 2018, among 700 adults in Metro Vancouver. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Metro Vancouver. The margin of error— which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.7 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our full data set here and download the press release here.

Two-in-Five Canadians Say Their Home Heating Use Has Increased

December 6, 2018June 8, 2019By Mario Canseco

Three-in-ten Canadians in a relationship say they change the temperature at home without telling their partner.

Vancouver, BC [December 6, 2018] – A sizeable proportion of Canadians are relying more heavily on home heating this year, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, two-in-five Canadians (41%) say their energy and heating use at home has increased over the past few weeks—a proportion that reaches 46% in Atlantic Canada, and 43% in both Ontario and British Columbia.

Across the country, 9% of Canadians say they typically set their home heating at 18C or lower. Most residents select 19C or 20C (38%) and 21C or 22C (40%), while 6% set the thermostat at 23C or higher.

Respondents to this survey who are married or living with a significant other were asked who is in charge of setting the temperature at home. Two-in-five (40%) say they are solely responsible, while 18% say their spouse or partner takes care of this task, and 30% affirm that the decision is taken by both equally.

Women are more likely to say that the home thermostat is a joint responsibility (34%, compared to 25% for men), while men are more likely to say they are solely responsible for home heating settings at home (43%, compared to 38% for women).

Three-in-ten Canadians in a relationship (30%) admit that they change the temperature at home without telling their spouse or significant other “all of the time” (8%) or “most of the time” (22%), while just 19% say they have “never” done this.

“Women (35%) are more likely to acknowledge that they adjust the thermostat without telling their spouse or partner than men (25%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “On a regional basis, Quebecers are more likely to say they would never change the settings without consulting first (35%), while British Columbians (8%) are the least likely to do so.”

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from November 26 to November 29, 2018, 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 full data set here and download the press release here.

Two Thirds of Canadians Side with Evolution, Not Creationism

November 28, 2018November 27, 2019By Mario Canseco

Only one-in-five respondents think God created human beings in their present form.

Vancouver, BC [November 28, 2018] – Most Canadians share the same point of view regarding the origin and development of human beings on earth, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, two thirds of Canadians (66%) say that human beings “definitely” or “probably” developed from less advanced forms of life over millions of years.

Conversely, one-in-five Canadians (21%) think that God “definitely” or “probably” created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years.

In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, 41% of residents believe in creationism—a significantly higher number than in all other provinces. Quebec has the smallest proportion of respondents who identify with creationism (10%).

“Age appears to play a role in shaping the perceptions of Canadians on the origin of life,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “While half of those aged 18-to-34 (50%) definitely concur with evolution, the proportion drops among those aged 35-to-54 (45%) and those aged 55 and over (26%).”

Canadians hold more nuanced views on whether creationism—the belief that the universe and life originated from specific acts of divine creation—should be part of the school curriculum in their province.

Across the country, almost half of respondents (46%) believe creationism should not be taught in schools, while more than a third (38%) think it should be.

Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to believe that creationism should not be part of the school curriculum in their province (54%) than those aged 35-to-54 (44%) and those aged 55 and over (42%).

In British Columbia, a majority of residents (55%) are opposed to teaching creationism in schools, followed by Quebec (49%), Manitoba and Saskatchewan (45%), Ontario (44%), Alberta (43%) and Atlantic Canada (41%).

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from August 27 to August 30, 2018, among 1,001 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 full data set here and download the press release here.

Photo Credit: Becris from the Noun Project

Half of Canadians Would Not Date Someone Who Vapes

November 21, 2018June 8, 2019By Mario Canseco

Most residents agree with the government’s decision to prohibit the sale of vaping products to minors and ban certain flavours.

Vancouver, BC [November 21, 2018] – A sizeable proportion of Canadians appear to be put off by users of electronic cigarettes, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 50% of Canadians say they would not consider dating a person who used e-cigarettes.

The areas where most residents say they would not date vapers are British Columbia (60%) and Ontario (52%).

Across the country, 11% of Canadians say they have used an electronic cigarette in the past year—a proportion that rises to 19% among those aged 18-to-34, 15% in Atlantic Canada and 13% in Alberta.

Majorities of Canadians agree with a series of policies to address vaping that were implemented by the federal government as part of Bill S-5, including prohibiting the sale of vaping products to minors (88%), restricting any reference to e-cigarettes as healthier than standard tobacco products (73%), restricting the use of testimonials and “lifestyle” advertising for vaping products (71%) and banning certain flavours of vaping products, such as “confectionery” (62%).

In addition, three-in-four Canadians (76%) believe there should be a ban on the use of e-cigarettes in public places where smoking is currently prohibited, and 91% want vaping products that contain nicotine to display a warning, similar to the one used for tobacco products.

“While vaping has been around for a few years, it has not become a pervasive ritual in Canada,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Most Canadians are comfortable with vapers getting the same treatment that is afforded to smokers.”

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from August 27 to August 30, 2018, among 1,001 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 full data set here and download the press release here.

Half of Canadians Say Drivers Are Worse than Five Years Ago

October 31, 2018June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

In the past month, seven-in-ten Canadians witnessed a driver not signaling before a turn.

Vancouver, BC [October 31, 2018] – Canadians are not particularly thrilled with the behaviour they are observing on the country’s roads, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 50% of Canadians say drivers in their city or town are worse than they were five years ago, while only 4% say they are better.

The areas where most residents believe drivers are getting worse are British Columbia (64%), Atlantic Canada (59%), Alberta (53%) and Ontario (51%).

Seven-in-ten Canadians (71%) saw a driver not signalling before a turn in the last month, including 83% of British Columbians. In addition, three-in-five (61%) witnessed a car taking up two or more spots in a parking lot, including 77% of those in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

In the past month, almost half of Canadians (48%) saw a driver not stopping at an intersection, 45% witnessed cars turning right or left from an incorrect lane and 42% had a “close call” while in their vehicle.

Only 16% of Canadians did not witness any major problems on the roads in the past four weeks, including 26% of Quebecers.

A majority of Canadians (58%) believe there are specific groups or people in their city or town who are worse drivers than others. This proportion includes 68% of British Columbians, 60% of Albertans and 58% of Ontarians.

“Equal proportions of Baby Boomers and Millennials (60%) say there are some drivers who are worse than others in their municipality,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Those who volunteered a follow-up response were more likely to blame each other, with Canadians aged 18-to-34 pointing the finger at old drivers, and those aged 55 and over saying young drivers are responsible.”

Methodology:

Find our full data set here and download the press release here.

Photo Credit: Haljackey

Most Canadians Support Mandatory Vaccinations for Children

October 3, 2018June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

Almost one-in-five believe the decision should be up to parents.

Vancouver, BC [October 3, 2018] – While a sizeable majority of Canadians are in favour of mandatory childhood immunization in their province, almost one-in-five believe the decision should be up to parents, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 78% of Canadians believe vaccinations for children should “definitely” or “probably” be mandatory in their province.

Conversely, 18% think parents should “probably” or “definitely” be the ones deciding whether their children should be vaccinated.

In the late 1990s, a study published in the weekly medical journal The Lancet—which has since been discredited and retracted—attempted to link childhood vaccination and autism.

Across Canada, 23% of respondents think there “definitely” or “probably” is a correlation between the childhood vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella and autism in children—including 25% of Ontarians and Quebecers.

“One third of Canadians aged 18-to-34 (32%) and one-in-four of those aged 35-to-54 (25%) believe the widely debunked notion of childhood immunization leading to autism is definitely or probably true,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Respondents over the age of 55 are significantly less likely to think the same way (13%).”

When it comes to vaccinations and seasonal diseases (such as the flu), Canadians are more likely to reject a compulsory program.

Three-in-five Canadians (59%) think each person should “definitely” or “probably” be allowed to decide whether they want to get the flu vaccine, while just under two-in-five (38%) believe the flu vaccine should be mandatory in their province.

A majority of Canadians aged 18-to-34 (51%) voices support for the flu vaccine to be mandatory in their province, compared to 36% for those aged 35-to-54 and 29% for those aged 55 and over.

Methodology:

Credit: Armin Kübelbeck

Canadian Employees Using Company-Issued Devices for Fun

September 25, 2018June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

Almost two thirds of the instant messages sent during work hours are not related to work.

Vancouver, BC [September 25, 2018] – Canadian employees whose smartphones are being financed by employers are spending more time sending instant messages to friends and family than connecting with colleagues to deal with tasks, a new Research Co. poll has found.

The online survey of a representative national sample asked Canadians who are employed full time and have a smartphone that their company is paying for about the instant messages they send while at work,

Just over a third of the instant messages that are sent during work hours on company-issued smartphones (35%) are interactions with colleagues for work-related tasks. Almost two thirds of the messages (65%) are interactions with family, friends and acquaintances for fun.

Across the country, full-time employees in Atlantic Canada are the most likely to use their company-issued devices for fun (69%), followed by those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (67%), Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia (all at 65%) and Alberta (63%).

Full-time employees in the highest annual household income bracket are less likely to use their company-issued devices for fun (60%) than those in the lower income brackets.

“While a majority of instant messages sent from smartphones that employers are paying for are for fun, there are some generational differences,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Employees aged 55 and over are more likely to be having fun with company-issued devices during work hours than their younger counterparts.”

More than a third of full-time employees (35%) say they received a confusing message from someone they know because of auto-correct—a proportion that jumps to 47% among those aged 18-to-34. Millennial respondents are also more likely to have sent a confusing message because of auto-correct (45%, compared to the Canada-wide average of 30%).

Three-in-ten respondents (31%) say they declined an invitation to connect with a person through instant messaging in the last six months, and 18% say they left an instant messaging group they belonged to.

The most popular platform for instant messaging is Facebook Messenger, with 83% of respondents saying they use it during work hours, while more than half rely on messaging applications on their smartphone (62%), Skype (also 62%), Twitter Direct Messages (57%) and LinkedIn Messenger (also 57%).

Fewer respondents use WhatsApp (49%), Windows Live Messenger (33%) and Blackberry Messenger (16%) during work hours.

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from May 7 to May 11, 2018, among 659 adults in Canada who are employed full-time and have a smartphone that their company is paying for. 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 +/- 3.8 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our full data set here and download the press release here.

Few Canadians Willing to Pay as News Content Shifts Online

August 2, 2018June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

Almost half say they do not visit any news sources that charge for online access.

Vancouver, BC [August 2, 2018] – Canadians have not embraced the concept of paying for news and information online, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, only 9% of Canadians say they are currently paying subscribers of at least one online news source that they find interesting—a proportion that rises to 14% among those aged 18-to-34.

Three-in-ten Canadians (31%) say they stop going to an online news source if there’s a limit on free articles and/or a paywall—including 39% of those aged 35-to-54.

“Content is increasingly moving online, but almost half of Canadians (47%) are not paying for any of it right now,” says Mario Canseco, President at Research Co. “Those over the age of 55 are more likely to say they do not visit any news sources that charge for online access (56%) than those aged 18-to-34 (41%) and those aged 35-to-54 (41%).”

More than half of Ontarians (52%) say they do not visit any news sources that charge for online access. The proportion of non-subscribers drops to 49% in British Columbia, 47% in Alberta, 46% in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, 44% in Atlantic Canada and 36% in Quebec.

Only 13% of Canadians say they get news and information from a hard copy of a local newspaper on a daily basis, and fewer access a hard copy of a national paper (9%) or a hard copy of a magazine (5%).

When it comes to radio and television, 41% of Canadians say they get their news and information from local television newscasts and news channels. A slightly smaller proportion (37%) watch national television newscasts and news channels every day. One-in-five (26%) listen to local radio newscasts daily, and 11% listen to national radio newscasts every day.

Almost a third of Canadians (32%) say they get news and information from Facebook on a daily basis. This is a substantially higher proportion than other sources, including websites from television news providers (20%), Twitter (18%), websites from national and local newspapers (14% each), websites from independent online news providers (8%), websites from radio stations (7%), websites of magazines (6%) and blogs (also 6%).

More than half of Canadians (56%) support the federal government’s proposal to invest $50 million over five years to support independent, non-governmental organizations that are expected to focus on delivering local journalism in communities.

Majorities of Canadians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) (65%), the Liberal Party (61%) and the Conservative Party (52%) in the 2015 federal election endorse the proposal.

Methodology:
Results are based on an online study conducted from May 7 to May 11, 2018, 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 full data set here and download the press release here.

Credit: Liis Saar

Canadians Have Differing Views on BBQ Drinking Etiquette

June 29, 2018June 7, 2019By Mario Canseco

More than half say they only consume the beer or cider they bring to a party or barbecue.

Vancouver, BC [June 29, 2018] – As the country prepares for Canada Day celebrations, the conduct of Canadians who consume alcohol at a “BYOB” party or barbecue differs greatly by gender, age and region, a new Research Co. poll has found.

The online survey of a representative national sample asked Canadians who drink beer or cider to suppose they had just arrived at a party or barbecue and placed a six-pack of beer or cider they brought into a large cooler that was being used by everybody.

Across the country, three-in-five respondents (62%) say they would only drink the beer or cider they brought themselves.

One-in-four respondents (25%) say they would help themselves to any beer or cider that is in the cooler, but making sure not to consume more than six cans.

One-in-twenty respondents (5%) say they would drink any beer or cider that is in the cooler, even if more than six cans are consumed.

Women are more likely than men to say they would only consume what they brought to the party or barbecue (69% to 55%).

Conversely, men are more likely to say they would try anything in the cooler and keep a six-can maximum (30% to 20%) or drink anything, even if it’s more than the six-pack they brought themselves (8% to 2%).

Respondents aged 55 and over are less likely to only drink what they brought to the party or barbecue (54%) than those aged 35-to-54 (58%) and those aged 18-to-34 (73%).

“Millennials have sometimes been labelled as egotistical,” says Mario Canseco, President at Research Co. “But on this matter, they are more likely to steer clear of other people’s booze than their older counterparts.”

Atlantic Canadians are the most likely to say they would only drink what they brought to the party or barbecue (75%), followed by Albertans (72%), residents of Manitoba and Saskatchewan (70%), British Columbians (69%) and Ontarians (64%).

Quebecers are the least likely to only consume the six-pack they brought (47%, compared to the national average of 62%) and the most likely to consume more than six cans at the party (11%, compared to the national average of 5%).

Two thirds of Conservative Party voters in the last federal election (68%) would only consume what they brought, along with 64% of Liberal Party voters and 60% of New Democratic Party (NDP) voters.

Methodology:
Results are based on an online study conducted from May 7 to May 11, 2018, among 836 adults in Canada who drink beer or cider. 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 full data set here and download the press release here.

Photo Credit: DarrenBaker

Canadians Divided on Physically Disciplining Children

May 24, 2018June 6, 2019By Mario Canseco

Three-in-four agree with parents using “reasonable force”, but fewer think schoolteachers should be able to do the same.

Canadians are of two minds when it comes to the use of force to correct children, even if the Criminal Code makes no distinction between parents and schoolteachers, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of Canadians, three-in-four respondents (74%) agree with allowing parents to physically discipline children in Canada.

When asked whether schoolteachers should be allowed to physically discipline children in Canada, only 43% of respondents agree, while half (50%) disagree.

“There is a sizeable gender gap on this issue,” says Mario Canseco, President at Research Co. “While half of men (51%) have no problem with physical punishment in the classroom, more than half of women (55%) disagree.”

Section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada reads: “Every schoolteacher, parent or person standing in the place of a parent is justified in using force by way of correction toward a pupil or child, as the case may be, who is under his care, if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstances.”

Several countries around the world, including Denmark, Finland, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden, have adopted laws that forbid physical punishment towards children, either by parents or schoolteachers.

In Canada, Bill S-206—introduced by Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette—seeks to remove the justification in the Criminal Code available to schoolteachers, parents and persons standing in the place of parents of using force as a means of correction toward a pupil or child under their care.

When asked whether it’s time to abolish the legislation that allows schoolteachers and parents to use “reasonable force” to discipline children in Canada, one third of Canadians (34%) agree, but a majority (53%) disagree.

More than three quarters of Canadians (77%) report that they were physically disciplined as children by a parent or guardian—including 89% of Albertans, 84% of Conservative Party voters in the 2015 federal election and 83% of Canadians aged 55 and over.

Three-in-ten Canadians (31%) say they were physically disciplined as children by a schoolteacher. Canadians aged 55 and over are more likely to say a schoolteacher physically punished them (54%) than those aged 35-to-54 (21%) and those aged 18-to-34 (17%).

Photo Credit: Thelmadatter.