The latest poll from the Angus Reid Institute finds a strong majority of Canadians want community restrictions lifted.
The latest poll, taken Jan. 27-28, found 54% want restrictions to be lifted compared to just 39% who wanted restrictions lifted when the same question was asked two weeks earlier, the non-profit institute said.
“With Omicron now appearing to have peaked, many Canadians are leaning toward reducing restrictions related to COVID-19 control in Canada,” the group said in a statement on its website.
The survey found that 32% of Canadians strongly agree with the statement that “It’s time to end restrictions and let people self isolate if they’re at risk.” 22% of respondents said they agreed, while 24% said they disagreed and 16% said they disagreed strongly.
That means the number of Canadians who strongly agree that it’s time to end restrictions is DOUBLE the number of those who strongly disagree.
Angus Reid researchers noted that there is some “considerable division” across the country.
In British Columbia, 52% of those surveyed said they either agree or strongly agree with ending restrictions, compared to 57% in Alberta, 62% in Saskatchewan, 51% in Manitoba, 54% in Ontario and 59% in Quebec. In Atlantic Canada, however, only 40% of respondents agree or strongly agree.
The study found that 67% of males aged 35-54 want travel restrictions lifted, compared to just 40% of women 55 and older.
The numbers are quite strong, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government seems to closely monitor polling of Canadians. It will be interesting to see if things start to open up soon.
