Smaller majority wants a new lockdown in Canada

Majority (56%) of Canadians Support Another Lockdown to Stop the Spread of Omicron | Ipsos Reid:

December 17, 2021 – "With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading quickly and stoking worries of a sharp rise in case counts and hospitalizations, a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Global News reveals that a majority (56%) of Canadians agree (20% strongly / 36% somewhat) that we should have another lockdown to help stop the spread of the Omicron variant. Conversely, 44% oppose (18% strongly / 26% somewhat) another round of lockdowns. Support is highest in Quebec (62%), British Columbia (61%), Atlantic Canada (60%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (59%) and lower in Ontario (53%) and, especially, Alberta (44%).

"Although a majority still support lockdown measures, support is dropping. [In July 2020, a Nanos poll found 73% favoring another lockdown (50% strongly / 23% somewhat), with 25% opposed (13% strongly / 12% somewhat) - gd] In July of 2021, 69% said they would support more lockdown measures if a fourth wave of the pandemic arose, which dropped to 63% in September, and is now just 56% now that the Omicron wave is upon us.  

"Canadians believe that Omicron will further delay to the return to normal, particularly when it comes to the ability to travel:

• Eight in ten (82%) agree (35% strongly / 47% somewhat) that the Omicron variant will delay things getting back to normal
• Eight in ten (80%) agree (47% strongly / 33% somewhat) that they would cancel their travel plans if COVID-19 gets any worse.
• Nearly four in ten (37%) however take a more stubborn approach to travel, agreeing (11% strongly / 25% somewhat) that they will travel next year, regardless of fluctuating coronavirus cases.

"Reflecting on the performance of key figures over the past year in their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the poll reveals that some public health officials have outperformed their political masters in the eyes of Canadians.... Compared to May of 2021, the Prime Minister’s COVID-specific approval rating is down by 5 points to 49%, while collectively the premiers’ approval rating is down just 2 points. The Premier of Quebec (75%, -1) receives the highest approval ratings among his first minister colleagues, followed by the Premiers of British Columbia (63%, -13), Atlantic Canada (61%, -7), Ontario (52%, +2), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (37%, -7) and Alberta (33%, +2).

"These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between December 10 and 15, 2021, on behalf of Global News.... In this case, the poll is accurate to within ± 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadians aged 18+ been polled." 

Read more: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/majority-support-another-lockdown-stop-omnicron