Canadians Support Vaccinating Healthcare Workers Worldwide

With the announcements of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines last month and vaccine deployment teams ramping up their strategic planning the reality of a vaccine is getting closer and closer. It’s something that has been talked about since the beginning of this pandemic ‘When we get a vaccine…’, ‘A vaccine will help us return to normal’…. But now that the time is nearly here, how do Canadians feel about the logistics about the deployment of a vaccine worldwide?

We partnered with CanWaCH (The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health), to understand how Canadians feel about a vaccination strategy beyond our borders.

First, three in four (76%) Canadians say it is critical that every healthcare worker worldwide is vaccinated once a vaccine becomes available. Canadians understand the important work and sacrifices our healthcare workers have made worldwide and understand the importance of providing healthcare workers with a vaccine that can keep them safe on the front lines.

A clear majority of Liberal (88%), Conservative (67%) and NDP (80%) voters support this approach, especially Liberal voters (52% say they strongly agree with this approach).

Canadians also support the federal government providing financial assistance to ensure this is possible. More specifically, two-thirds (67%) support a financial contribution of $50 million from the federal government. We wanted to understand whether this financial contribution came with a hard-stop, but even when the number is doubled (to $100 million) we still see support from 63% of Canadians. This suggests there is little hesitancy about the cost, and that  Canadians understand the importance of the issue and want to see our government making a contribution.

Finally, these perceptions are grounded in an understanding that stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Canada means stopping the spread of the virus worldwide. Through globalization our world is intrinsically interconnected, and the spread of a virus is no different.

79% of Canadians say that unless COVID-19 is controlled in other parts of the world, we can’t return to life as normal in Canada. Stopping the spread of the virus, through measures like vaccinating every healthcare worker is important for Canadians to live their lives normally again. Canadians understand that as a global problem, the pandemic needs a global response, and want to ensure Canada is committed to taking a lead in this approach.

A desire for Canada to take a lead in a global approach because of the impacts here at home also crosses party lines. Again, support is strongest among Liberal voters but there are also a considerable number of CPC voters that understand the importance of taking action globally.

 UPSHOT

The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded Canadians just how small the world really is. This pandemic has shown us what happens outside our borders can have real implications on what happens here at home.

Most Canadians want the federal government to help ensure that healthcare workers globally get access to a COVID-19 vaccine and there’s little political risk in doing so. A desire to protect frontline workers worldwide crosses party lines. Only a small minority would be upset if the federal government announced significant funding to support those goals.

While the tendency for a Canada-first approach may seem appealing given the circumstances, our research shows that most Canadians see a global role for Canada in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and helping to protect those on the frontlines through widespread vaccine adoption.

ABOUT ABACUS DATA

We are the only research and strategy firm that helps organizations respond to the disruptive risks and opportunities in a world where demographics and technology are changing more quickly than ever.

Find out more about what we are doing to help clients respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are an innovative, fast-growing public opinion and marketing research consultancy. We use the latest technology, sound science, and deep experience to generate top-flight research-based advice to our clients. We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and exceptional value.

We were one of the most accurate pollsters conducting research during the 2019 Canadian Election.

Contact us with any questions.

Find out more about how we can help your organization by downloading our corporate profile and service offering.

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted with 1,659 Canadian residents aged 18 and over from October 29th to November 2nd, 2020. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 2.4%, 19 times out of 20.

The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

COVID-19MediaPolls

Canadians see Biden taking climate action and want Canada to keep pace to stay competitive

In the latest round of survey work by Clean Energy Canada and Abacus Data, two out of three people in Canada believe that President-elect Biden will follow through on his promise to make climate change a major priority, including two out of three people in Canada’s leading oil-producing province, Alberta.

When asked whether they believe that Biden’s effort to reduce emissions will make America’s economy weaker or stronger, the results may surprise: for every person who feels America will lose ground economically (19%), two believe it will gain (40%). In total, 81% think a drive to reduce emissions will not harm the US economy.

The consensus that America can reduce emissions without harming its economy is broad, includes all regions of the country, and cuts across all generations. While the debate in Canada has had strong regional and political cleavages in the past, these seem more muted now.

• Only 30% of Albertans believe a climate push will hurt America’s economy, while an equal number think it will add strength (31%) and the rest think the economic impact will be neutral.

• While one in three Conservative (33%) voters think a Biden climate push will weaken America’s economy, a quarter (24%) think America will be stronger as a result, and 42% see no significant impact. Supporters of other parties are considerably more likely to say cutting emissions will strengthen America’s economy.

The question of how Canadian policy should tack based on Mr. Biden’s anticipated approach is topical right now. When told of Biden’s stated intent to invest very significantly in clean energy projects, respondents are clearly of the view that Canada should follow the same path.

Three out of four (77%) to want Canada “to move our economy at a similar pace towards clean energy so we don’t become uncompetitive with the US economy” rather than to assume America’s economy will be weakened by a shift to cleaner energy and that we should move more slowly to gain an economic advantage (23%).

This preference to move in step with America is the majority view in every part of the country, including Alberta (65%). It is also the view of a majority of supporters of all political parties, including 59% of Conservatives.

UPSHOT

According to Bruce Anderson, Chairman of Abacus Data: “For most Canadians, who welcomed the election of Joe Biden, his climate agenda will be seen as a positive for the future of the planet.  But what is most interesting in these numbers is the fact that public opinion has crossed a tipping point – people now believe that an economy which shifts it’s an approach towards cleaner energy won’t be adding costs and losing competitiveness – they are more likely to believe that it will have a positive economic effect.

The second major finding here is that Canadians, including most Albertans and most Conservatives, believe Canada must shift in this direction in order to remain competitive with the US and not be left behind.  For politicians and policymakers we are now much more squarely in a world where people want to discuss the how, not the whether, of an energy transition and the fight against climate change.”

According to Merran Smith, Executive Director of Clean Energy Canada: “Canadians don’t want to be left behind, which means keeping tabs on our friends around the world. With a Biden presidency kicking off the new year and game-changing clean stimulus plans from countries like Germany, the U.K., and South Korea, it’s clear that Canada must work to keep up in what might be the world’s most competitive—and economically critical—race. It’s also clear that Canadians understand what’s happening globally, and that few wish to place their bets on old ways of doing things.”

ABOUT ABACUS DATA

We are the only research and strategy firm that helps organizations respond to the disruptive risks and opportunities in a world where demographics and technology are changing more quickly than ever.

Find out more about what we are doing to help clients respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are an innovative, fast-growing public opinion and marketing research consultancy. We use the latest technology, sound science, and deep experience to generate top-flight research-based advice to our clients. We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and exceptional value.

We were one of the most accurate pollsters conducting research during the 2019 Canadian Election.

Contact us with any questions.

Find out more about how we can help your organization by downloading our corporate profile and service offering.

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted with 1,419 Canadian adults from November 26 to December 1, 2020. A random sample of panellists was invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 2.6%, 19 times out of 20.

The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

COVID-19MediaPolls

The Happiness Monitor- Happiness & Mental Health

At first glance, a question about someone’s level of happiness may appear superficial. But our perceived level of happiness is tied to all sorts of aspects of our lives- including our mental health. In fact, one of my first questions when starting the Happiness Monitor was what our happiness says about our mental health and the ability to access services and supports to keep us healthy.

So we asked people to tell us about their mental health. Unsurprisingly, how we self-asses the state of our happiness, is very much tied to how we assess the state of our mental health. In fact, they almost align perfectly.

So, what does this mean about the state of mental health of Canadians? We often talk about mental health as if it was just one part of who we are. But the strong relationship with happiness belies this. Mental health is core to us. If it dictates our level of happiness, that means that it also has big consequences for everything from our productivity, big life decisions, consumer behavior, and even civic engagement. Considering that our average happiness score is still sitting just above 60 out of 100, it is worth thinking about how Canadians are dealing with their mental health and the role that happiness plays.

First, half of us say our struggles with mental health are interfering with our lives. Happiness aside, this is a rather startling finding. Sure, the pandemic has created additional insurmountable pressures on the lives of nearly all Canadians- but for half of us, this pressure is having real tangible impacts on our day to day lives.

Young Canadians (who are on average less happy than older Canadians) are much more likely to say their lives have been negatively impacted by mental health struggles. In fact, those 18-29 are more than twice as likely to say they are impacted all or some of the time by mental health, compared to those 60+. And the correlation between mental health and happiness is just as strong among those 18-29 as it is for those 60+. This means, it isn’t just older Canadians willing to acknowledge their mental health challenges, rather it may signal to the unique challenges young Canadians face with their mental health, that subsequently has a negative impact on their ability to cope with challenging situations.

There is also a relationship between happiness and the negative impact mental health struggles have on one’s life. There is a very significant difference between the happiness scores of those who face negative mental health impacts all the time (48 out of 100), and those who do not face them at all (72 out of 100). Those who feel fewer negative mental health impacts, are happier.

And conversely, unhappy people are more likely to see that they get less done because of how they feel. 84% of unhappy people (those who rate their happiness at a between 0-20 out of 100) say this is something they struggle with all/some of the time. This is compared to the just 29% of those who are very happy (rate their happiness an 80 or higher).

The good news is that most of us are able to navigate those situations. 79% say that we can easily navigate these stressful or anxious situations, at least some of the time.  Still, this means that 1 in 5 are not able to navigate these situations on their own.

People who are better able to manage a stressful situation are happier. Among those who say they can navigate these situations all the time, they rate their average happiness at a 72. And those who say they can’t navigate these situations at all rate their happiness as a 54.

The same inverse relationship applies here too. Happy people are also able to better manage a stressful or anxious situation. 86% of very happy people (80 or higher) say they can easily navigate these situations at least some of the time. Among unhappy people (a 20 or less), this drops to 61%.

Access to support services for mental health is key for our mental health, and subsequently our happiness. Those who have good access to these services are much happier than those who do not have access to services. The inverse relationship is also present here too. Very happy people are twice as likely to have access to supports for mental health, compared to unhappy people.

That said, only a third of Canadians say they have easy access to resources for mental health all of the time. For these Canadians, their average happiness score is 70, well above the national average. And on the other end of the scale, those who don’t have access to these services at all have an average happiness score of 53, well below the national average.

And this applies across demographics. Canadians who are less happy (younger, live in Quebec, lower income and less education) also struggle the most with accessing these services.

So, what does this all mean?

A moderate happiness score of Canadians overall means that there can be definite improvements to the mental health services in this country.  If happiness is tied to our ability to access services to improve our mental health, then a moderate score of happiness at 61 out of 100 means that we could be doing a better job of helping Canadians access the services they need.

A decline in the average happiness scores should be a warning sign about the mental health of Canadians.  Lower happiness scores indicate that we are struggling with events that have a real impact on our mental health, and they also indicate that we might be struggling with how to navigate these situations on our own or access services and supports. Accessing services and having the mental health capacity to work through situations of stress an anxiety are linked to happiness is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Access to services brings about greater happiness, but only those with greater happiness have good access to these services. This link that we identified is helpful- but it also highlights that there is still work to be done. Lower happiness scores among certain demographics can highlight those who need better access to mental health services the most.

If mental health is intrinsically linked to our happiness, then we need to start paying a lot more attention to the mental health of Canadians. We often think of mental health as one aspect of our health and our lives, but it’s relationship with happiness suggests that its influence is much greater. Lower happiness scores (which in turn signal lower levels of mental health) has all sorts of consequences like lower levels of civic engagement, and lower rates of workforce participation. Health aside, these are some pretty serious consequences.

To subscribe to updates and releases on the Happiness Monitor, click here.

ABOUT ABACUS DATA

We are the only research and strategy firm that helps organizations respond to the disruptive risks and opportunities in a world where demographics and technology are changing more quickly than ever.

Find out more about what we are doing to help clients respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are an innovative, fast-growing public opinion and marketing research consultancy. We use the latest technology, sound science, and deep experience to generate top-flight research-based advice to our clients. We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and exceptional value.

We were one of the most accurate pollsters conducting research during the 2019 Canadian Election.

Contact us with any questions.

Find out more about how we can help your organization by downloading our corporate profile and service offering.

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted with 1,500 Canadian residents from November 13 to 18, 2020. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 2.51%, 19 times out of 20.

The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

Media

Doctors key to overcoming COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

In our latest national survey, we explored how best to overcome the hesitancy which might keep some Canadians from taking the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to them.

Roughly a third of those surveyed in September (33%) and November (31%) say they would get vaccinated as soon as possible. A larger number say they would get a vaccination but might wait a bit to see how things turn out (42% in September/47% in November) Just over one in 10 people (14% September, 13% in November) say they are not inclined to want to take a vaccination but could be persuaded to. And about 1 in 10 say they will not be vaccinated under any circumstances.

In other words, between 56% and 60% of Canadians show some degree of vaccine hesitancy. This hesitancy could help alleviate some friction as the supply of doses accelerates to meet the demand for those doses.

However, if as the months unfold, hesitancy continues and there are more doses than people willing to take the vaccination – the pandemic could be elongated with continuing health and economic impacts.

We asked those who are hesitant (60%) of our sample, which might influence them to be vaccinated.

Here’s what we found:

• Most of the hesitant say that several things would be influential, indicating that communications can help effect a broader takeup of the vaccine. Among those who say they are disinclined but could be persuaded, at least a half say that different elements we tested could influence them.

• At the top of the list of what would help influence people to take the vaccine are messages and encouragement from their family doctor, as well as from the Canadian Medical Association, which is the voice of doctors in Canada. This underscores the vital nature of tapping into the confidence people have in medical professionals especially on matters of safety and efficacy – and particularly given the evidence that the conversation can be derailed by partisan politics.

• Messages and encouragement from Canada’s Health Minister would be influential for 83% of those inclined to wait a bit, and about half of those who are disinclined but could be convinced. To extrapolate, if both these conversion rates (from hesitancy to vaccination) held, 77% of Canadians would be vaccinated.

• Peer influence is also highly important. As more people learn that their friends, family, co-workers have decided to take the vaccine and experience no harmful side effects, momentum towards acceptance will grow.

• We also looked at the effectiveness of messages that emphasized how widespread vaccination could speed a vaccine return to a normal lifestyle and economic times. The results showed that these messages are effective with roughly 3 out of 4 of those inclined to wait a bit and about half of those “disinclined, but could be persuaded”. The idea of requiring proof of immunity to attend sporting or other events, or to fly on a commercial flight has a lot of potential impacts, as would reminders from businesses small and large that employment levels and in some cases the survival of the businesses depend on getting back to normal sooner.


UPSHOT

According to Bruce Anderson: “Success with a COVID-19 vaccine rests not only on getting the vaccine produced and delivered to Canadians but it also requires a high level of public confidence and acceptance of the safety of the vaccine and the urgency of community immunity. This poll underscores that the ideal effort to reduce vaccine hesitancy includes advice from doctors, confidence-building by public health leaders, and reminders that the lifestyles people miss and the economic confidence that is shaken are both dependent on resolving this pandemic as quickly as possible, and that taking a vaccination is a critical step in that process. Safe vaccines, widely taken. get us to normal faster.”

ABOUT ABACUS DATA

We are the only research and strategy firm that helps organizations respond to the disruptive risks and opportunities in a world where demographics and technology are changing more quickly than ever.

Find out more about what we are doing to help clients respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are an innovative, fast-growing public opinion and marketing research consultancy. We use the latest technology, sound science, and deep experience to generate top-flight research-based advice to our clients. We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and exceptional value.

We were one of the most accurate pollsters conducting research during the 2019 Canadian Election.

Contact us with any questions.

Find out more about how we can help your organization by downloading our corporate profile and service offering.

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted with 1,419 Canadian adults from November 26 to December 1, 2020. A random sample of panellists was invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 2.1%, 19 times out of 20.

The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

COVID-19MediaPolls

How has the pandemic impacted holiday shopping and winter travel in Canada?

This holiday season will be unlike any other that Canadian’s have experienced because the COVID-19 pandemic has severely restricted what we can and should do this year.

For the past eight months, the pandemic has altered many of the ways we do things. It introduced consumers to new ways of shopping, strengthened loyalty with pre-existing brands, and forced us to reconsider the value of different things in our lives.

In our latest national survey of over 2,900 Canadians, we explored how COVID-19 is going to impact shopping and travel in the 2020 holiday season.

Here are some of the highlights from that survey:

Finding #1: More than half of Canadians have started their holiday shopping already. With almost 1 in 5 saying they are already done.

Atlantic Canadians and women are more likely to have gotten a head start on their holiday shopping compared with other regions or among men.

Two factors are driving the early holiday shopping patterns of Canadians:

1) There’s broad hesitation in going to shopping malls – 81% of Canadians say they will avoid shopping malls if they can this year.

2) 70% of Canadians are concerned about delays in shipping or the postal service for purchases made online. This concern has forced them to think and shop sooner than they normally would.

Finding #2: Compared with last year, far more holiday shopping will be done online.

When asked to estimate what percentage of their holiday shopping last year was done online versus in-store, two-thirds of shopping was done in store compared to one-third online.

This year, Canadian consumers estimate that they will do on average 56% of their shopping online compared to 44% in-store. This represents a substantial shift in how Canadians will shop this holiday season.

Along generational lines, boomers have drastically increased their online shopping from last year, surpassing millennials’ online shopping habits from last year.

Finding #3: Shopping and supporting local businesses is important to Canadians this holiday season. Over 7 in 10

Canadians say they will try to shop local this year.

Throughout the pandemic, we have seen an increased desire and intention of Canadians to shop and support local businesses. This holiday season is no different, with over 7 in 10 reporting that they will try to shop local more this year than in the past. This desire does not falter among subgroups.

Finding #4: For some Canadians, the pandemic will take a bite out of holiday spending this year. For others, spending will increase.

30% of Canadians say they will be spending less on holiday shopping this year than last year, while 16% say they will be spending more.

Here we see a difference among generational lines with more than twice as many millennials expecting to spend more on holiday gifts this year than any other generation.

Finding #5: Higher spending on holiday shopping comes as winter travel intentions to warmer destinations all but disappears.

Last year, about 1 in 5 Canadian adults said they travelled to a warm destination over the winter. Not surprisingly, this year only 3% intend to do so, representing an 85% reduction in winter travel to warmer destinations.

THE UPSHOT

Canadians have endured a lot over the past 8 months and are not letting the pandemic dampen their holiday spirit. In fact, their preparedness has increased, as most still plan to do holiday shopping this year and half have already begun.
Even though the pandemic has financially impacted many Canadians, all is not lost – a majority still plan to do as much holiday spending as they normally do.

Although Canadians remain hesitant to shop in-store this holiday season, there is a strong desire to support and have access to local businesses. Local retailers who have been able to adapt to having an online presence will be more successful this season.

Millennials are going to be big spenders this holiday season. Even though a third will not be spending on travel to visit family this year, they are twice as likely to expect to spend more on food, alcohol, decorations, and entertainment/activities this holiday season than other generations.

ABOUT ABACUS DATA

We are the only research and strategy firm that helps organizations respond to the disruptive risks and opportunities in a world where demographics and technology are changing more quickly than ever.

Find out more about what we are doing to help clients respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are an innovative, fast-growing public opinion and marketing research consultancy. We use the latest technology, sound science, and deep experience to generate top-flight research-based advice to our clients. We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and exceptional value.

We were one of the most accurate pollsters conducting research during the 2019 Canadian Election.

Contact us with any questions.

Find out more about how we can help your organization by downloading our corporate profile and service offering.

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted with 2,950 Canadian adults from November 16 to 24, 2020. A random sample of panellists was invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 1.8%, 19 times out of 20.

The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

COVID-19MediaPolls

Canadians are patient about COVID-19 vaccine availability

When asked when they think a vaccine will be made available to them personally in the new year, only 23% expect that will happen in the first quarter, another 27% guess the second quarter, 17% the third quarter, and 20% believe it will happen in October or later.

When asked if the timing they expected a vaccine to be available for them personally was excellent, good, acceptable in the circumstances or unacceptably slow, only 17% said it was too slow, and 83% said their imagined timing was acceptable or better than that.

Across party lines, 74% of Conservative voters said the timing they imagined was acceptable or better, only 27% said it was unacceptably slow. Supporters of other parties were more positive still.

As the chart below indicates levels of dissatisfaction are under a third for every month that a respondent guessed, with the exception of December (which was only picked by 3%).

We also asked if Canadians would be angry if people in other countries were able to get vaccinated before Canadians. A quarter said they would (24%) but the large majority (76%) said they would be “satisfied as long as Canadians are able to get access to doses within a couple of months of when they are available elsewhere.” This was the view of three-quarters of men and women, of all age groups, in every region. The only subgroups where an angry reaction was a bit more evident were Conservative voters (28% angry) and Bloc voters (39% angry).

Overall, 59% are satisfied with the “way the federal government has been handling its responsibilities for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes a majority in every region of the country except for Alberta, where opinion is split (46% approve/54% disapprove).

Asked how they feel about their provincial government, the average is 58% nationally, with the highest numbers in Atlantic Canada and Quebec, followed by Ontario and BC at 60% satisfied. The lowest satisfaction is registered in Alberta, where 37% are satisfied and 63% dissatisfied with the way the Kenney government is handling the pandemic.

UPSHOT

According to Bruce Anderson: “Canadians are undoubtedly frustrated and worried by COVID-19 but they have been consistently showing patience and a bias for caution when it comes to what it will take to exit this pandemic. It’s unusual, to say the least when Albertans are more unhappy with the Kenney government on an issue than they are with the Trudeau government – but that’s the case as things now stand in regard to the pandemic.

Attitudes towards the availability of a vaccine continue in this vein, with most people appearing to feel that the federal government is doing its best to make reasonable choices in the circumstances and largely tuning out what may sound like politically motivated accusations of incompetence.

For most people, the availability of a vaccine is good news and their expectations of distribution and availability appear to line up with the outlook provided by the government so far. That could change of course, but so far Canadians are not particularly troubled by what they see as the outlook for vaccine access.”

MORE FROM ABACUS DATA

Earlier today, we also released new data showing that less than half of Canadians say they will not gather with family outside their household over the holidays.

ABOUT ABACUS DATA

We are the only research and strategy firm that helps organizations respond to the disruptive risks and opportunities in a world where demographics and technology are changing more quickly than ever.

Find out more about what we are doing to help clients respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are an innovative, fast-growing public opinion and marketing research consultancy. We use the latest technology, sound science, and deep experience to generate top-flight research-based advice to our clients. We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and exceptional value.

We were one of the most accurate pollsters conducting research during the 2019 Canadian Election.

Contact us with any questions.

Find out more about how we can help your organization by downloading our corporate profile and service offering.

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted with 1,419 Canadian adults from November 26 to December 1, 2020. A random sample of panellists was invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 2.1%, 19 times out of 20.

The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

COVID-19MediaPolls

Abacus Data Bulletin: Half of Canadians say they won’t gather with family outside their household for the holidays

Abacus Data Bulletins are short analyses of public opinion data we collect. For more information or media interviews, contact David Coletto.

PLEASE NOTE: The results in this release were updated on December 3.

In our latest national survey completed on December 3, we asked respondents what they planned to do for the holidays when it comes to gathering with family.

51% said they will not gather with family outside of their household during the holidays. But almost half say they still may or definitely will.

33% say they may still get together with family from different households, but will be extra cautious and safe. 8% say they will get together with family for the holidays like they usually do, regardless of what health authorities say.

Results were fairly consistent across the country with Albertans being most likely to say they will avoid gathering with family outside their household and Atlantic Canadians being the least likely.

UPSHOT

Despite warnings and recommendations from health authorities and political leaders that Canadians refrain from gathering with family and friends from outside their household, many Canadians still say they intend to do so.

There is still time for these plans to change obviously, but the initial intentions are to go against this advice and find a safe way to gather with family over the holidays.

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted with 1,221 Canadian adults (18+) living outside Quebec from November 27 to December 3, 2020. A random sample of panellists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 2.8%, 19 times out of 20. The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

ABOUT ABACUS DATA

We are the only research and strategy firm that helps organizations respond to the disruptive risks and opportunities in a world where demographics and technology are changing more quickly than ever.

We are an innovative, fast-growing public opinion and marketing research consultancy. We use the latest technology, sound science, and deep experience to generate top-flight research-based advice to our clients. We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and exceptional value.

We were one of the most accurate pollsters conducting research during the 2019 Canadian Election.

Contact us with any questions.

Find out more about how we can help your organization by downloading our corporate profile and service offering.

COVID-19MediaPolls

Liberals lead by 6 nationally, as COVID-19 gains as top issue

Our latest national survey puts the Liberals ahead by 6 nationally – and with leads in BC, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada that would give them potential to win a majority if an election were held today.

• In BC, the Liberals 34% lead the Conservatives by six (28%). The Conservatives won the popular vote in that province in 2019 by 8-points.
• In Ontario, the Liberals (43%) lead by 12 over the Conservatives (31%). The Liberal margin in the 2019 election was 9-points.
• In Quebec, the Liberals (35%) lead the BQ by 6 (29%). The Liberals finished just 2 points ahead of the BQ in 2019.
• In Atlantic Canada, the Liberals are at 47%, followed by the Conservatives at 24%.
• In the Prairies the Conservatives have a massive roughly 30-point lead.


Approval of the federal government performance is +13 (48% approval – 35% disapproval). At the time of the last election, the Trudeau government was at -9, with 36% approval, and 45% disapproval.


On a regional basis, BC voters give Ottawa a +25 (53% approve/28% disapprove) in Ontario the spread is +19 (54% approve/33% disapprove) and in Quebec +11 (44% approve/33% disapprove).

Almost one in four (22%) who voted Conservative in 2019 approve of the federal government performance right now, as do 46% of those who voted NDP and 39% of those who voted Green.

When it comes to the issues that are preoccupying the largest number of Canadians, a plan to deal with COVID-19 and a plan for the economy of the future are the top two, and COVID-19 concern has risen 6 points in two weeks.

Among those who rate having a plan to deal with COVID-19 as a top issue (64%), 44% would vote Liberal today, 27% Conservative and 17% NDP. The Conservatives lead among those who are preoccupied with a plan for the economy, helping to protect/create jobs, or finding the right balance of spending and taxation. The Liberals are well ahead among those who say a top issue is climate change or improving equality for all.

Impressions of the party leaders reveal:

• Trudeau is at +8 with 42% positive, 34% negative.
• Singh is at +13 with 36% positive, 23% negative
• O’Toole is +1 with 23% positive, 22% negative
• Blanchet is -19 with 14% positive, 33% negative. In Quebec, his image is +16.
• Paul is +1 with 15% positive, 14% negative. 40% don’t yet have an opinion of her.

Looking at the results for Erin O’Toole after his first three months as Conservative Party leader reveals no change in overall impressions with equal numbers having a favourable opinion (23%) as unfavourable (22%). In Ontario and BC there has been no change. In Quebec, Mr. O’Toole’s negatives rose a bit from 18% to 24% and his positives rose slightly from 18% to 21%.

Relative to Justin Trudeau, here’s where Mr. O’Toole is at today, in the three provinces which hold the most seats. In BC, Mr. Trudeau is +12; Mr. O’Toole -4. In Ontario, Mr. Trudeau is +19; Mr. O’Toole net 0. In Quebec, Mr. Trudeau is +6, Mr. O’Toole -3.

UPSHOT

According to Bruce Anderson: “The Trudeau government is in good standing in terms of overall management and in dealing with the pandemic at the moment, but could be in a stronger position in terms of the public’s confidence on economic and fiscal matters. Finance Minister Freeland has an opportunity to help bolster that flank next week.

If opposition parties triggered an election now, the Liberals would enter it in better standing than they had in 2019, by a considerable amount.

The PM personally is holding a relatively good level of personal support especially in BC and Ontario, and in those provinces, Mr. O’Toole has not to date either been causing damage to Mr. Trudeau’s standing or building political capital for himself personally. Conservative messages on Covid-19 do not appear to be denting approval of the government or drawing interest in the Conservatives as an alternative – and their other major focus on China seems to be drawing limited public interest so far.”

According to David Coletto: “As Minister Freeland is set to share the Fall Economic Statement on Monday, our latest look at the political environment reveals the Liberals continue to govern with broad support from the public. The government’s approval rating remains above pre-election levels with close to 50% approving of its performance overall. The Prime Minister’s personal image is more positive than negative, and the Liberals have a six-point lead nationally over a Conservative Party that has been stuck around 30% since the 2019 election.

Almost two in three people say their top focus is the pandemic and will base their vote on a party’s plan to deal with it. Among this group, the Liberals lead by 17-points. Among those who rank an economic-focused issue as their top concern, the Conservatives have a lead. This gives us some insight into the impact of framing on a possible election in 2021. If it’s about COVID and COVID-response, the Liberals have the upper hand. If, on the other hand, it becomes framed around the economy, jobs, and fiscal policy, the Conservatives could be competitive and even win.”

ABOUT ABACUS DATA

We are the only research and strategy firm that helps organizations respond to the disruptive risks and opportunities in a world where demographics and technology are changing more quickly than ever.

Find out more about what we are doing to help clients respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are an innovative, fast-growing public opinion and marketing research consultancy. We use the latest technology, sound science, and deep experience to generate top-flight research-based advice to our clients. We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and exceptional value.

We were one of the most accurate pollsters conducting research during the 2019 Canadian Election.

Contact us with any questions.

Find out more about how we can help your organization by downloading our corporate profile and service offering.

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted with 2,912 Canadian adults from November 16 to 24, 2020. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 1.85%, 19 times out of 20.

The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

Canadian PoliticsCOVID-19MediaPolls

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: Canadians Concerned about COVID-19 Impacts

Yesterday was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It is a day to amplify the call to action of eliminating and preventing violence against women.

The issue of violence against women is a problem world-wide and also at home. According to data from a Statistics Canada survey, every 6 days a woman is killed by her intimate partner.

Given the serious consequences of this issue, supports are paramount for these women. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, on any given night over 6,000 women and children slept in shelters across Canada. And on any given night- 300 were turned away.

But like many social services, access to supports for domestic violence was shaken during the pandemic. As another set of lockdowns roll around these difficulties seem here to stay- at least for the time being.

On our last omnibus survey, we wanted to gauge impressions about the difficulties in accessing these services, and the actions Canadians want to see as a result.

Here is what we found:

Canadians are concerned about the ability of women facing domestic abuse to leave their abusive situation and access supports and services they need.

65% of Canadians are concerned about womens’ ability to leave situations of domestic violence during the pandemic. And 61% are concerned about the access these women have to services and supports.

Level of concern does vary by demographics. For example, women are ten points more likely than men to be concerned about these issues. Those is rural Canada (where services are likely already sparse) are also more concerned than those in urban areas. And among women, those under 30 and over 60 are most concerned about the ability for women to leave situations of domestic violence.

Canadians think that the COVID-19 recovery from the federal government should recognize the decline in services during the pandemic and work to eliminate a gap in services, as much as possible.

Aside from asking Canadians whether or not this was an issue, we also asked what kind of solutions they want to see going forward.  A near majority of Canadians want the government to take into account the deficit of support services for women experiencing violence during the pandemic. 90% say Canada’s federal COVID-19 recovery plan needs to account for this.

Politically, this aspect of a COVID-19 recovery plan has wide-spread support. 95% of Liberal voters say Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plan needs to take this into account. 83% of Conservative voters and 92% of NDP voters say the same.

There is also wide-spread support for Canada’s recovery to be gender-inclusive and include a gender-based analysis.

Concerns about the pandemic’s impact on violence against women is just one piece of a wider recognition of the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic on women (disproportionate labour force impacts, caregiving responsibilities, and risks of exposure just to name a few). Overall, 72% of Canadian’s say Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plan should be gender-inclusive and include a gender-based analysis.

Once again, support is strongest among Liberal voters (at 80%), but is also supported by the majority of Conservative (67%) and NDP (79%) voters.

SO WHAT?

While we’ve all felt the impacts of the pandemic in one way or another, the majority of Canadians are highly concerned for others living in more precarious situations. This includes women in situations of domestic violence who are likely facing even greater struggles. The isolation we feel from staying at home can be challenging for us all, but is particularly difficult for those who’s home is not safe.

Support services and shelters were vital pre-pandemic, and it is likely that home isolation and service interruptions during the pandemic will only make them more crucial for these women. Canadians recognize these challenges, and want the government to acknowledge them too.

ABOUT ABACUS DATA

We are the only research and strategy firm that helps organizations respond to the disruptive risks and opportunities in a world where demographics and technology are changing more quickly than ever.

Find out more about what we are doing to help clients respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are an innovative, fast-growing public opinion and marketing research consultancy. We use the latest technology, sound science, and deep experience to generate top-flight research-based advice to our clients. We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and exceptional value.

We were one of the most accurate pollsters conducting research during the 2019 Canadian Election.

Contact us with any questions.

Find out more about how we can help your organization by downloading our corporate profile and service offering.

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted with 1,500 Canadians between the dates of November 13th and 17th, 2020. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 2.51, 19 times out of 20. 

The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.  

COVID-19MediaPolls

Wealth tax? Canadians like the idea.

In our latest national survey, we asked how Canadians felt about two different tax ideas that have been discussed as part of an approach to helping pay for the costs of the pandemic. Here’s what we found.

On the idea of a 1% tax on wealth paid by people who have more than $20 million in assets, about 8 in 10 (79%) Canadians favour the idea, including 35% who strongly favour it. The idea gets at least 75% support in every region, across all age groups, all levels of educational attainment, and is broadly (73%) supported by households in the top income bracket.

Most Conservative voters (64%) support the idea, as do even more Liberals (86%) and New Democrats (87%).

The second idea tested was “a special tax that would apply to companies whose profits have gone up because of the circumstances of the pandemic.” For these companies, the corporate tax would be double on the profits they earned in excess of their pre-pandemic profit level.”

This idea also found broad majority support (68%), albeit at a lower threshold than the personal wealth tax. Support was fairly consistent across regions, age, education and income lines. A majority of Conservative voters (58%) and larger majorities of Liberal (73%) and NDP voters back this idea (77%).

UPSHOT

According to Bruce Anderson: “The extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic and the related costs to government mean that many people are open to time and circumstance-specific taxes, as part of an effort to bring spending back closer to revenue levels. Combined with a pre-existing concern about the gap between the wealthy and others, there is political room to manoeuver for politicians who are looking for options that raise money and seem fair in the circumstances.”

According to David Coletto: “This is not the first poll we’ve done that shows broad support for a wealth tax. There was a cross-partisan, national consensus on this before the pandemic. The economic crisis and the resulting fiscal challenges have likely strengthened support for this additional revenue source.

What’s most striking is the general agreement across the political spectrum about a tax increase. Raising taxes on the rich and highly profitable corporations is one of the few ideas that both progressives and right populists agree on. Both groups are key parts of the Liberal and Conservative parties’ coalitions.”

ABOUT ABACUS DATA

We are the only research and strategy firm that helps organizations respond to the disruptive risks and opportunities in a world where demographics and technology are changing more quickly than ever.

Find out more about what we are doing to help clients respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are an innovative, fast-growing public opinion and marketing research consultancy. We use the latest technology, sound science, and deep experience to generate top-flight research-based advice to our clients. We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and exceptional value.

We were one of the most accurate pollsters conducting research during the 2019 Canadian Election.

Contact us with any questions.

Find out more about how we can help your organization by downloading our corporate profile and service offering.

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted with 1,660 Canadian adults from November 6 to 12, 2020. A random sample of panellists was invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

COVID-19MediaPolls