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Report

PARCA Longitudinal Study Wave 1

Baseline level of Canadians' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to climate change

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Natural Resources Canada
Impact Canada, Impact & Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office
Forest fire

Key Insights

This report focuses on the results for the first wave of this research. 2,104 Canadians aged 18 and older were surveyed between December 13, 2021 and January 6, 2022. The data has been weighted by region, age group, gender, and education to ensure that the sample distribution reflects the actual Canadian adult population according to Statistics Canada census data.

As the participants were recruited through an online panel assembled through multi-phase probabilistic sampling, it is appropriate to have an associated margin of error. For a sample of this size, the margin of error is +/-2.14%, 19 times out of 20. We did not oversample specific populations in this wave, though this option is available to us and will be explored in Wave 2.

  • Outlook on Climate Change : Half of Canadians are very worried about climate change, and few are hopeful.
  • Mitigation Behaviours: While most Canadians believe industry and institutions should be doing a lot more to limit further climate change, they are still open to making some changes in their own lives to help limit climate change. Most Canadians also recognize the potential of limiting further climate change through collective action.
  • Adaptation Behaviours: Information-seeking is how Canadians most commonly prepare for the impacts of climate change.
  • Support for Environmental and Climate Policies: There are high levels of support for Canada to develop renewable resources and move away from oil and coal. The vast majority of respondents strongly support many climate policies, but not necessarily the most effectives ones for mitigation.
  • Trust & Information Sources: Majority of Canadians trust in scientists and friends on climate change, and distrust in all levels of government. Canadians are exposed to climate change information from a wide variety of sources, with Canadian TV, radio channels and their websites, being the most common source.

Background

In September 2021, in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Impact and Innovation Unit launched a multi-year program of research on climate change. The Program of Applied Research on Climate Action in Canada (PARCA) will combine behavioural science insights and methods with robust policy analysis to promote climate action.

Together with ECCC and NRCan, we will learn about how Canadians think, feel and act in response to climate change and the risks it creates. We will then develop and test, online and in the real world, specific behaviourally-informed solutions with the potential to reduce GHG emissions and promote climate adaptation at the individual and community level. This work will generate new insights on a rapid timeframe and use them to inform policy development, program design, and public communications.

Methodology

The study is conducted with a General Population Random Sample using a longitudinal design (i.e. the same participants, where possible, will be completing the survey each wave), along with oversampling of underrepresented populations and other specific populations of interest. This initial study will span eight waves between December 2021 and March 2023, with data collected every two months to allow for optimal monitoring.

  • Advisory Committee

    The longitudinal survey is designed in consultation with an advisory committee of academics and practitioners. The committee consists of subject matter experts from a diverse range of backgrounds, including behavioural science, environmental psychology, communications, political science, anthropology, climate policy, and sustainability.

  • Survey Objectives

    The PARCA longitudinal study is public opinion research that uses a large and nationally representative sample of Canadians to gather data and track changes over time about how Canadians think, feel, and act in response to climate change and its impacts. The robust, quantitative evidence generated by this study will help identify where there is potential for promoting greater individual climate and environmental action.

  • Data Collection & Analysis

    Surveys are conducted online, in English and French, by Advanis, a leading Canadian market research company. Respondents are recruited through random digit dialing calls and invited to complete the survey online. Each wave takes about 20 minutes to complete, after which participants are asked whether they may be contacted for future waves.

    To ensure the sample is broadly representative of the Canadian population and to allow for analyses within and between subgroups of interests (e.g. regions, provinces, age groups, vulnerable groups), each wave consists of 2,000 participants. The sample includes general population respondents (n=1,500) weighted by region, age group, gender, and education using data from the 2016 Census, as well as an oversample (n=500) of populations of specific interest, which may change from one wave to the next. In Wave 1, the oversample was used to extend the general population sample to 2,000 participants.

    Impact Canada conducts exploratory and confirmatory data analyses using descriptive and inferential statistics to identify emerging trends and test relationships among variables.

Considerations

Data Collected: December 13, 2021 – January 6, 2022

Sample Size: 2,104

When interpreting the PARCA results it is useful to keep in mind the context of the data collection period, which may have influenced the responses of survey participants. During the Wave 1 data collection period:

  • The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, had recently taken place from October 31 to November 13, 2021. A new global agreement – the Glasgow Climate Pact – was signed at the summit. For the first time, the agreement included a pact to "phase down" coal usage. Prime Minister Trudeau also urged all countries to agree to a global price on carbon during a panel discussion.
  • Recent extreme weather events in Canada:
    • On November 14, 2021, torrential rainfall led to catastrophic flooding and landslides in the southern part of British Columbia.
    • In December 2021, a polar vortex passed over Western Canada, resulting in periods of extreme cold.
    • Earlier in 2021, BC also experienced extreme heat waves, wildfires, and wildfire smoke.
  • The Canadian federal election was held on September 20, 2021, resulting in a Liberal minority government. The Liberal Party's election platform outlined its plan to tackle climate change, including eliminating subsidies for the oil and gas industry, developing tax credits for clean technologies, developing flood maps for high-risk areas, establishing new national parks, and other climate-related promises.

Please note that some figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding and non-responses.

Climate Change Attitudes & Perceptions

Beliefs that climate change is real, human-caused, and serious are not universal

While a majority of respondents strongly agree climate change is real (74%), will bring about serious negative consequences (60%), and is primarily caused by human activity (55%) these views are not held uniformly. Notably, 25% of respondents only somewhat agree the main cause of climate change is anthropogenic, while another 6% neither agree nor disagree. The level of agreement on the proximity of climate impacts is mixed. Only 41% of respondents strongly agree their local areas will be affected and only 42% strongly disagree it will be a long time before the consequences of climate change are felt.

Half of Canadians are very worried about climate change, and few are hopeful

Half (51%) of respondent are very or extremely worried about the issue of climate change, while 34% feel very or extremely anxious about the issue. People who feel very or extremely hopeful are a small minority (15%), and one quarter (23%) express no hope at all. Only a small percentage (13%) feel very or extremely confused about the issue, but more than half (55%) express at least slight confusion.

Strong belief in climate change varies by region

Out of all demographic characteristics, region had the biggest association with belief in climate change. Respondents from AB/NT and MB/SK/NU had significantly lower levels of belief in climate change than those from BC/YK, ON, and the Atlantic. Please note that these results are for strong belief, while there’s a further group who somewhat believe in climate change. In terms of other demographic factors, those with higher levels of education are more likely to strongly believe in climate change, while men, particularly those between the ages of 35 and 54, are less likely to believe. Note: Though it is standard practice to combine MB/SK in regional analyses, SK had a significantly lower rate of strong belief (60%) than did MB (78%). The Wave 1 sample across the North (YT/NT/NU) was not large enough to break that region out separately, but an oversample in this region is planned for a future wave.

Consensus: Canadians underestimate belief in climate change among other Canadians

On average, respondents estimate that just 58% of Canadians believe climate change is a threat that requires urgent action, despite 81% of respondents reporting the belief that climate change will have serious negative consequences. Respondents also think that people close to them are more concerned about climate change than the average Canadian.

In your opinion, what percentage of people in each of the following groups believes climate change is a threat that requires urgent action?

Group Mean (%) Median (%)
Climate scientists 88 98
My friends and family 67 80
Canadians 58 60

Norms: Most Canadians agree that people like them care about nature and climate change

Most respondents agree or somewhat agree that people like them care about protecting nature (85%) and about climate change (74%). However, they are less likely to agree that people who are close to them are taking action to help limit climate change. A plurality (41%) of respondents indicate some agreement that people like them know that climate change is part of a natural cycle. This result will be further investigated in future waves of the survey.

While Canadians see some role for individual action, more believe industry and institutions are responsible

About two thirds of respondents think the federal government, businesses, and international organizations should be doing a lot more to limit further climate change. Fewer think regular people in Canada should being doing a lot more to mitigate climate change (45%), though a strong majority still think that regular Canadians should take more action. These results show that many Canadians (nearly half) believe individuals do not have primary responsibility to mitigate climate change (i.e., through individual actions as compared with government policy or actions by industry).

Climate Change Mitigation Behaviours

Canadians are open to making some changes in their own lives to limit further climate change

Three quarters (75%) of respondents are open to making substantial changes in their lives to help limit climate change, though half of those only somewhat agree with this statement. Two thirds (63%) of respondents say they have already made changes to help limit climate change. Of note, 14% of respondents indicate they strongly or somewhat agree that humans are not the main cause of climate change and that they do not therefore need to make changes in their lives.

Most Canadians believe it possible to limit further climate change through collective action

A majority of respondents believe that it is possible to limit further climate change through collective (78%) and personal action (68%). Most respondents (86%) believe they currently act in an environmentally-friendly ways. Even though 41% of respondents agree or somewhat agree that climate change is a natural phenomenon, very few (16%) think that taking actions related to climate change will have no effect.

Food: Reducing food waste is fairly common but wholly plant-based diets are rare

Among the suite of personal pro-climate mitigation habits assessed in this survey, efforts to eat a more plant-based diet are among the least common. Plant-based diets are more common among women than men, and among those with higher than lower levels of education. Plant-based diets also correlate with biospheric values, having a strong willingness to act to mitigate climate change, and believing one’s personal actions can have a positive impact.

Home energy: Mixed levels on home retrofit adoption and planning

More than three quarters (79%) of survey respondents who are homeowners report having completed at least one retrofit to increase energy efficiency in their homes; however, adoption varies widely across retrofits. The most common items were energy efficient windows and doors (59%), followed by smart or adaptive thermostats (43%).

Transportation: High reliance on private vehicles in day-to-day activities

Currently, 10% of Canadians regularly use public transportation and 35% regularly use active transportation. This compares poorly with two thirds (64%) who use private vehicles to commute and run errands. Note: Transportation behaviour, including frequency and mode share, has been affected by the pandemic and may change substantially in the medium term (e.g., flying, public transportation use).

Transportation: Few Canadians have EVs or hybrid vehicles, a minority may buy in the next year

About 10% of respondents report owning or leasing either an electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid vehicle, though about half of those respondents also have a gas- or diesel-powered vehicle. While current ownership rates of EVs are low (5%), another 15% of respondents say that they plan to purchase one in the next year, suggesting that there may be growing demand (a trend that will be monitored in future waves of the survey). One fifth (21%) of respondents plan to buy either an EV or hybrid within the next year.

Electric and hybrid vehicles are strongly associated with household income, ownership is increasing

Possession of an electric or hybrid vehicle is strongly linked to household income. A fifth (22%) of respondents who have household incomes of $200K or more annually already own or lease an electric or hybrid vehicle, while rates are much lower (between 6 and 12%) for those with lower annual household incomes. There are also some regional variations, with BC leading in both hybrid and EV ownership. QC also has relatively higher ownership levels compared to other regions. Both provinces – and more recently, all of the Atlantic provinces – offer rebates on the lease or purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles. Compared to a PCO study on zero-emission vehicles a year earlier, hybrid and EV ownership has generally increased. Hybrid vehicles remain more common than EVs.

Waste: Many Canadians recycle, but repairing and buying used are less common

An overwhelming majority of respondents report that they always or frequently recycle (92%) and more than half make similar efforts to reduce plastic use (62%). While fewer are engaged in other behaviours related to the circular economy (e.g., repairing, reusing), at least 50% report repairing products to extend their lifespans and buying or trading things second-hand instead of new on occasion (once or twice a month).

Climate Change Adaptation Behaviours

Extreme weather is universal, but its impacts are not

Nearly all respondents (98%) report having experienced extreme weather in the past two years, with excessive heat and cold, wind storms, and weather-related power outages most common. More than twice as many (55%) report having experienced wildfire smoke as having experienced wildfires in their local area (26%). The effect of these experiences on perceptions of climate change and support for climate policy will be evaluated in further analyses.

Substantial intention-action gap in household emergency preparedness

Less than half of respondents (45%) report having an emergency supply kit, while only a quarter (26%) have a household-level emergency plan. However, a further third say they plan to create these within the next year. Future waves will track whether this intention holds as the memory of recent weather-related disasters fades. Adaptation-related research and policy in Canada have largely focused on emergency preparedness and response (i.e., coping), not long-term adaptation to climate change. Adaptation behaviours can be more comprehensively investigated as the knowledge base deepens.

Information-seeking is how Canadians most commonly prepare for the impacts of climate change

Over half of respondents (53%) have taken no action in the last two months to prepare for the impacts of extreme weather and climate change. The most common actions taken consist of information-seeking, with 30% of respondents having looked for information on future impacts of climate change and risks of extreme weather events in their local area.

Most Canadians can afford their energy costs, but a minority cannot

The vast majority of respondent (89%) had no issues with energy affordability in the past two months. Respondents who report experiencing energy affordability issues within the last two months are more commonly located in rural areas (at a rate of 18%), and in Alberta (13%) and Atlantic Canada (16%).

Support for Environmental and Climate Policies

High levels of support for renewable resource development, mixed results for bio and nuclear

There is strong consensus among the respondents in our study that Canada should be moving away from oil and coal and toward development of renewables, especially solar (88% somewhat or strongly support). However, there is less agreement on bioenergy, natural gas, and nuclear energy. Compared to results from PCO survey in February 2021, support (somewhat or strongly) for further development of natural gas has dropped by 24% and oil by 26%. That study did not ask about support for further coal development.

Strong support for many climate policies, but not necessarily the most effective ones for mitigation

The vast majority of respondents support efforts to protect ecosystems and increase greenspace. This is followed closely by improving the resilience of vital infrastructure to extreme weather events. Policies related more directly to GHG emission reductions, such as carbon pricing and capping emissions from the production of oil and gas are also supported, but at lower levels. Of note, there is greater support for (+7%) and less strong opposition to (-6%) a global carbon price than a national carbon price. Future waves will test whether this differentiation of nature, adaptation and mitigation holds for other sets of policies.

Trust & Information

Trust in scientists and friends on climate change, distrust in all levels of government

A strong majority of respondents completely or somewhat trust scientists – much more than any other group – while family and friends are also widely trust. However, respondents’ expressions of trust are tentative – a plurality report somewhat trusting all groups other than fossil fuel companies. While 79% of respondents believe that the Government of Canada should do more to limit climate change, only a third completely (5%) or somewhat (37%) trust the Government on this issue.

Canadians are exposed to climate change information from a wide variety of sources

Canadian TV and radio channels, including their websites, are the most common source of information on climate change (40% always or frequently). Social media platforms are less so (6-20%). Friends and family remain an important source of climate information (24%), which is notable because of the trust that respondents expressed in them. Few people frequently access government websites for information (13%), but half of respondents do so at least occasionally.

Misinformation: A sizeable minority believe that climate change is partly a natural phenomenon

Respondents were asked about the causes of climate change as part of several questions throughout the survey. Despite high belief in climate change (74% of respondents strongly agree climate change is real), nearly half (41%) of respondents at least somewhat agree that climate change is part of a natural cycle, and 25% only somewhat agree that human activity is the main cause of climate change. These respondents may believe in a combination of factors – both human and natural. The roles of basic scientific and climate literacy, including exposure to misinformation and disinformation, will be further explored in future waves.

Regional Profiles

Regional Profile Canada
(n=2,104) 		BC/YK
(n=325) 		AB/NT
(n=256) 		MB/SK/NU
(n=191) 		ON
(n=557) 		QC
(n=533) 		ATL
(n=242)
Age
18-34 years 25% 25% 29% 27% 25% 24% 22%
35-54 years 39% 38% 42% 39% 39% 38% 37%
55 years and older 36% 37% 29% 34% 35% 38% 41%
Gender
Male 49% 49% 49% 49% 48% 49% 49%
Female 50% 49% 48% 50% 51% 51% 50%
Other 1% 2% 3% 1% 1% 0% 1%
Education
High school or less 10% 10% 7% 12% 11% 9% 10%
College/trades 36% 36% 45% 34% 31% 40% 40%
University / post-graduate 53% 54% 47% 52% 57% 51% 49%
Size of community
A large city 49% 41% 75% 53% 53% 45% 15%
A suburb near a large city 18% 26% 9% 3% 15% 31% 10%
A small city or town 23% 24% 11% 30% 23% 18% 47%
A rural area 9% 8% 5% 12% 9% 6% 27%
Employment
Full-time (30+ hours per week) 53% 49% 52% 59% 54% 53% 47%
Part-time (<30 hours per week) 5% 7% 7% 7% 4% 6% 3%
Self-employed 11% 13% 14% 4% 13% 8% 10%
Unemployed 3% 3% 3% 2% 4% 1% 2%
Full-time student 4% 2% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4%
Retired 18% 20% 15% 15% 16% 23% 26%
Full-time homemaker 2% 4% 1% 5% 2% 1% 2%
Other 2% 3% 1% 2% 2% 3% 3%
Income
Under $20,000 4% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 5%
$20,000 to just under $40,000 8% 5% 9% 10% 7% 11% 12%
$40,000 to just under $60,000 11% 6% 8% 14% 11% 14% 13%
$60,000 to just under $80,000 12% 12% 12% 7% 11% 14% 14%
$80,000 to just under $100,000 11% 10% 10% 14% 10% 15% 13%
$100,000 to just under $150,000 20% 21% 21% 22% 20% 19% 18%
$150,000 to just under $200,000 10% 10% 12% 9% 11% 9% 7%
$200,000 to just under $250,000 6% 9% 5% 5% 6% 5% 4%
$250,000 and above 7% 11% 5% 4% 9% 3% 3%
Household size
1-2 51% 45% 55% 50% 49% 55% 56%
3-4 36% 39% 31% 38% 39% 33% 35%
5+ 12% 16% 14% 12% 11% 12% 9%
Parents
Yes 66% 71% 62% 64% 65% 69% 68%
Have children under 18
Yes 34% 37% 34% 32% 34% 35% 28%
Language(s) spoken at home
English 73% 90% 92% 87% 89% 18% 91%
French 19% 1% 0% 1% 2% 75% 4%
Mandarin 1% 1% 0% 0% 2% 0% 1%
Spanish 1% 2% 0% 1% 0% 2% 0%
Russian 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 1%
Arabic 1% 0% 0% 0% 1% 1% 0%
Other 4% 4% 5% 6% 5% 3% 2%
Immigration
Born in Canada 75% 73% 82% 76% 69% 80% 91%
Recent immigrants (2001-2021) 9% 13% 7% 5% 12% 6% 2%
Long-term immigrants (2000 and before) 11% 10% 8% 15% 13% 10% 6%
Prefer not to say 4% 3% 2% 4% 6% 4% 1%
Ethnicity
White 77% 78% 78% 72% 72% 82% 87%
Black 3% 1% 2% 1% 4% 6% 2%
South Asian 3% 4% 3% 1% 5% 1% 1%
Chinese 3% 3% 3% 1% 4% 1% 2%
Indigenous 3% 4% 3% 5% 2% 2% 4%
Latin American 2% 3% 2% 2% 2% 3% 1%
Filipino 2% 2% 1% 7% 2% 0% 1%
Arab 1% 0% 1% 0% 2% 2% 0%
Southeast Asian 1% 0% 1% 0% 1% 1% 0%
West Asian 1% 1% 0% 0% 1% 1% 1%
Other 4% 6% 1% 3% 5% 3% 3%
Prefer not to say 5% 3% 8% 9% 5% 3% 2%
Published: 2022-02-16
Last modified: 2025-05-25
  1. Homepage
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  3. COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO)
  4. COSMO Wave 2.5
Report

COSMO Wave 2.5

The use of public health measures when sick with symptoms of COVID-19 and future vaccination intervals

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Opinion Research Team, Privy Council Office
Impact Canada, Impact & Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office
Physician checking the temperature of two girls

Key Insights

Proximity to COVID-19 & Public Health Measures: In October, 54% of respondents reported having been - or likely having been - infected with COVID-19 at some point in the pandemic (up from 31% in June and 49% in August). Fewer than half of respondents reported often or always practicing public health measures such as wearing a face mask when it is not mandatory (31% in October, down from 40% in August), taking steps to improve air quality (34% in October, down from 40% in August) and avoiding public places and events (28% in October, down from 37% in August). Over a quarter of respondents who experienced symptoms of COVID-19 reported never staying home from work or school while sick.

Adult Vaccination: 2/3 respondents who were vaccinated longer than 6 months ago consider themselves up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines. Relatedly, over half of respondents with two doses consider themselves to be up-to-date.​ Only 30% of respondents think that it is realistic for Canadians to get a COVID-19 vaccine every 6 months, while 46% think that it is realistic for Canadians to get vaccinated once per year.

Pediatric Vaccination: Among parents who have not yet vaccinated their children aged 0-4 (18% received at least one dose in the COSMO sample), 51% do not intend to vaccinate their children, 23% want to wait a bit and 17% want to vaccinate their children ASAP. Parents’ worries about their children being infected with COVID-19 have decreased over time (29% reported being somewhat, very or extremely worried in October compared to 40% in February).

Sources of Information & Trust: Trust in information sources for COVID-19 has not shifted significantly since data collection began. 53% of respondents reported completely or moderately trusting the Canadian federal government, while 38% reported moderate or complete distrust. News consumption about COVID-19 decreased between April and June 2022 and remained relatively stable in August and October.

COVID-19 Knowledge & Misinformation: Large portions of the sample indicated uncertainty about the accuracy of true statements about COVID-19 – suggesting that there are knowledge gaps on COVID-19 information. A minority of respondents indicated that false statements about COVID-19 were ‘very accurate’ or ‘somewhat accurate’. These portions ranged between 5% and 18%, depending on the statement.

Mental Health & Wellbeing: Life satisfaction decreased slightly between August and October. Younger respondents (18-34) reported lower life satisfaction and poor mental health indicators compared to older respondents.

Pandemic Outlook & Recovery: Over half of the sample (59%) indicated that the worst of the COVID-19 crisis is behind us. One third indicated that day-to-day life currently resembles pre-pandemic times. Over time, most of respondents’ health-related worries have declined, with the exception of worry about healthcare systems being overloaded, which has increased. Compared to worries about COVID-19, worries about inflation, increasing divisiveness in society and climate change are higher priority.

Background

From April 2020 to November 2021, Impact Canada led the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Behavioural Insights (BI) Tool on COVID-19 in the Canadian context. This study - COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO Canada) - was conducted in collaboration with the Public Opinion Research Team at the Privy Council Office and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Insights from COSMO Phase One informed the federal response to COVID-19 and enabled whole-of-government decision making to meet the specific, changing needs of citizens throughout the pandemic.

In February 2022, Impact Canada launched the second phase and will continue to monitor the evolving pandemic response context with a new sample of Canadians and a new Advisory Committee.

Methodology

With a longitudinal design, the study follows 2,000 participants recruited from an online panel over eight waves of data collection. Respondents are a representative mix of Canadian adults aged 18 years and older and results are weighted using 2016 Statistics Canada census data to mirror the population distribution in Canada. For more information on the study methodology, please visit the COSMO Canada pre-registration page .

Considerations

Data Collected: October 5-26, 2022

Sample Size: 2,000

When interpreting the COSMO results, it is useful to keep in mind the context of the data collection period, which may have influenced the responses of survey participants. Prior to and during the Wave 2.5 data collection period:

  • Most Canadians were vaccinated. As of October 9, 2022, approximately 90% of the Canadian population aged 18+ had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 89% had at least two doses, 59% had at least three doses, and 18% had four doses.
  • Among children aged 12-17, 85% had at least one dose, 81% had at least two doses, and 17% had three doses. Among children aged 5-11, 54% had at least one dose, 42% had two doses, and 4% had three doses. 7% of children four and under had one dose and 1% had two doses.
  • On October 7, Health Canada authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants. The Moderna bivalent vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.1 subvariant was approved in early September.
  • On October 1, most federal government travel restrictions, such as testing, vaccine requirements and mask requirements were lifted.

Proximity to COVID-19 & Public Health Measures

Half report having been infected with COVID-19 at some point

In Wave 2.5, 54% of respondents reported having been - or likely having been - infected with COVID-19 at some point in the pandemic (up from 49% in Wave 2.4). The portion of the sample reporting not having been infected with COVID-19 decreased from 69% in February to 41% in October. Unvaccinated respondents (74%) and respondents from Alberta (60%) were more likely have been infected with COVID-19 at some point. Respondents aged 55+ were less likely (38%) to report having been infected.

1/5 respondents knew someone who died of COVID-19

19% of respondents reported personally knowing someone who died from COVID-19. Respondents aged 18-34 were less likely to know someone who died of COVID-19 (15%) compared to those aged 35-54 (19%) and those aged 55+ (22%). Residents in Manitoba and Saskatchewan were more likely to know someone who died (28%) compared to the national average. Those in Ontario (16%) and Atlantic Canada (16%) were less likely to know someone who died of COVID-19.

1/3 have been tested for COVID-19 in the past month

In Wave 2.5, 30% of respondents reported having been tested for COVID-19 in the past month, either using a rapid (27%) or PCR test (3%). 15% of respondents reported that they had administered a rapid test on someone else in the past month. Testing practices were quite stable between June and October.

Testing practices varied by province

Respondents in Ontario (30%) and Atlantic Canada (32%) were more likely to report using a rapid test in the past month, while respondents from Manitoba/Saskatchewan (20%) and British Columbia (22%) were less likely to get tested.

Common reasons for using rapid tests are having symptoms or being exposed to someone with symptoms of COVID

The majority of respondents (61%) who used a rapid test in the past four weeks did so because they were experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. 28% took a test because they were exposed to someone who likely had COVID-19. Smaller portions of the sample took tests when attending gatherings, interacting with someone who was at high-risk, or going to work/school/visiting a long-term care home.

Pharmacies are the most common place to access rapid tests

Half of those who used a rapid test in the past month indicated that they got it at a pharmacy. Other respondents got their rapid tests at retail stores (18%), through family and friends (12%), from provincial or municipal distribution sites (10%), at schools (7%) or through their employer (6%). Access points varied by province.

Rapid test access points varied significantly by province

Rapid test access points varied by province, with those from BC (68%), AB (70%) and QC (77%) indicating in high numbers that they accessed tests at pharmacies compared to 34% in ON, 14% in MB/SK, and 6% in ATL. Residents of MB/SK (28%) and ON (38%) were much more likely than other provinces to obtain their rapid tests at retail stores. Residents of AB (20%) and MB/SK (21%) were more likely to access their rapid tests through family and friends than those from other provinces. Residents of ATL were most likely to access their rapid tests at provincial or municipal distribution sites.

Adherence to public health measures is low

Fewer than half of respondents reported often or always practicing public health measures such as wearing a face mask when it is not mandatory (31%), taking steps to improve air quality (35%) and avoiding public places and events (28%). Respondents aged 55+ and women were more likely to report often or always practicing public health behaviours. Younger respondents, men, and residents of Alberta were less likely to report practicing these measures. The relatively low proportion of respondents voluntarily practicing health measures represents the latest data point in a declining trend over time.

Adherence to public health measures has declined over time

In general, the portions of respondents who report often or always practicing public health measures have decreased over time. For example, 57% of respondents reported often or always wearing a mask when it is not mandatory in April, compared to 31% in October.

Most who wear masks do not use respirator-type masks

Among respondents who reported sometimes, often or always wearing a mask in the past month in mandatory or non mandatory settings (79% of the sample), 58% reported wearing procedural or surgical masks, 24% reported wearing non-medical masks and 19% reported wearing respirator-type masks. While respondents aged 55+ reported wearing masks in non-mandatory settings more frequently (44% reported often or always wearing a mask), only 19% reported wearing respirator-type masks.

1/3 reported having had symptoms of COVID-19 in the past month

29% of respondents reported having experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the past month. This number was lower among those aged 55+ (18%) and higher among those aged 35-54 (32%) and 18-34 (40%).

Over 1/4 of those with symptoms of COVID-19 reported never staying home from work or school

Among respondents who reported having experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the past month, 32% always stayed home from work or school while sick and 19% stayed home some of the time. 30% reported that they always self-isolated while sick. 22% reported that they always wore a mask while sharing a space with others (including members of their household) and 13% isolated from members of their household while sick.

2/3 of those with symptoms of COVID-19 reported having used a rapid test in the past month

Among respondents who reported having experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the past month, 64% reported having used a rapid test, compared to 15% of those who did not have any symptoms.

Participation in gatherings, events and travel has increased over time

In general, participation in gatherings, events and travel increased wave-to-wave between February and June and remained relatively stable between June and October. Older respondents and women were less likely to report participating in the listed activities. For example, 75% of respondents aged 55+ reporting visiting with family and friends indoors compared to the average, 83%.

Over half would support the reintroduction of many public health measures, if necessary

The majority of COSMO respondents indicated that they would support the introduction or reintroduction of many public health measures should they be required. The most supported measures included mask requirements (66%), proof-of-vaccination requirements (55-57%) and gathering limits (54%). The most opposed measures were business closures (61% opposition), school/daycare closures (49% opposition) and stay-at-home orders (51% opposition). Respondents aged 55+ and women were much more likely to support the hypothetical reintroduction of measures.

Over time, support for reintroducing public health measures if needed has gradually declined

Over time, support for reintroducing public health measures if needed has gradually declined for most measures.

Over time, support for reintroducing proof-of-vaccination requirements has decreased but remains high

Over time, support reintroducing proof-of-vaccination requirements has decreased. However, a majority continue to indicate that they would support vaccine requirements if necessary to respond to a COVID-19 outbreak. Support for proof-of-vaccination requirements varies significantly by respondents' vaccination status, with those with fewer doses being less supportive of these measures.

Over half say they will never or rarely wear a mask for reasons other than COVID-19

One third of respondents (32%) indicated that they would never wear a mask in public for reasons other than COVID-19. A similar portion (36%) reported that they never wore a mask for COVID-19 in the past month (36%). Just under half of respondents (48%) reported that they would sometimes, often or always wear a mask for reasons other than COVID-19. Respondents aged 55+ and women were more likely to report than they would often or always wear a mask.

Adult Vaccination

Over time, intentions to get a 3rd dose have declined

In Wave 2.5, 20% of respondents with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine indicated that they are likely to get a third dose. Over time, intentions to get a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine have decreased, from 39% in February to 20% in October, while third dose uptake has not increased meaningfully.

Some respondents with 2 doses may be more likely to get a 3rd dose in certain scenarios

The top scenarios that respondents with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine indicated would make them more likely to get a third dose were: if proof of a third dose were required for activities like travel (39%); if a new more severe variant of COVID-19 began to spread (34%); and if a new vaccine were available that better prevented infection (32%).

¾ of those with 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine intend to get a 4th

Three quarters (73%) of respondents with three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine indicate that it is likely that they will get a fourth dose. Intentions to get a fourth dose have decreased slightly over time. However, this is likely explained by an increase in fourth dose uptake. Since the beginning of data collection in February, intentions to get a fourth dose (among those with three) have been much stronger than intentions to get a third dose (among those with two).

New vaccines or the emergence of a more severe variant would motivate 4th dose uptake

The top scenarios that respondents with three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine indicated would make them more likely to get a fourth dose were: and if a new more severe variant of COVID-19 emerged (73%) and if a new vaccine were available that better prevented infection (73%) or targeted COVID-19 variants (66%).

Over half of individuals with two doses consider themselves up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines

Over half of respondents with two doses considered themselves to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines and an additional 12% were unsure. Among those with three doses, 68% considered themselves up-to-date on vaccines even though, for most, four doses would have been recommended by the time of data collection.

Two thirds of those who were vaccinated longer than 6 months ago consider themselves up-to-date

When asked whether they consider themselves to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, 65% of those who received their most recent COVID-19 vaccine longer than six months ago say they are up-to-date on their vaccines. Those who received their most recent COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months are highly likely to consider themselves up-to-date.

More think it is realistic for Canadians to get a COVID-19 vaccine once a year vs. every 6 months

Using a split sample approach, half of respondents were asked whether it was realistic for Canadians to be vaccinated every 6 months and the other half of respondents were asked about every year. 46% of respondents thought that it was somewhat or extremely realistic to expect most Canadians to get a COVID-19 vaccine once a year, compared to 30% who thought every 6 months was realistic. Those who were unvaccinated (3%) or had two doses (15%) were much less likely to say that it was realistic for most Canadians to be vaccinated for COVID-19 every 6 months compared to those with three (29%) or four doses (46%).

1/3 think that bivalent vaccines are more effective than original COVID-19 vaccines

36% of respondents thought that COVID-19 vaccines targeting the omicron variant (bivalent vaccines) are a lot or somewhat more effective than vaccines targeting the original strain of COVID-19. 40% thought that new vaccines are equally effective to original vaccines. 6% thought that new vaccines were less effective and 18% thought that both types of vaccines are equally ineffective.

½ of respondents with 2 doses think bivalent vaccines are less effective or equally ineffective as original vaccines

Perceptions on the effectiveness of bivalent vaccines varied significantly by respondents’ vaccination statuses. The vast majority of unvaccinated respondents (88%) think that new vaccines are less or equally as ineffective as the original COVID-19 vaccines. Respondents with two doses were split on whether bivalent vaccines were effective or ineffective, with 53% indicating that they were equally or more effective than original vaccines and 57% saying they were less effective or equally ineffective. A large majority of respondents with three or more doses indicated that bivalent vaccines were equally or more effective than original vaccines.

Only 8% say that it is difficult to access vaccines in their area

Most respondents indicated that vaccines were very (58%) or somewhat easy (24%) to access in their area. Those living in small cities or rural areas were slightly more likely to say that vaccines are difficult to access in their area (10%) compared to those in large cities (6%) or suburbs (6%).

Under half plan to get a flu shot this year

Just under half of respondents (44%) indicated that they are likely to get – or already got – a flu vaccine in the 2022-2023 season, while 51% indicated that they are unlikely to do so. Flu vaccine intentions varied significantly by COVID-19 vaccination status. Only 6% of respondents who are unvaccinated for COVID-19 indicated that they are likely to get a flu shot, while 17% of those with two doses, 59% of those with three doses, 80% of those with four doses, and 83% of those with five doses indicated that they are likely to get or already got a flu shot.

Pediatric vaccination

30% of parents with children aged 12-17 with 2 doses intend to get their children another dose

Among parents with children aged 12-17 with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, 30% intend to get their child a third dose ASAP or after some time. 46% do not intend to get their child a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Thinking about your child(ren) aged 12-17, will they receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine?

Parents who have not yet vaccinated their children aged 5-11 do not intend to

The vast majority (88%) of parents who have not yet vaccinated their children aged 5-11 indicate that they do not intend to.

Majority of parents with children aged 5-11 with 2 doses of vaccine intend to get their children 3rd dose

61% of parents who have already vaccinated their children aged 5-11 intend to get their child a third dose either as soon as possible or after some time. A quarter (25%) of parents in this group do not intend to get their child a third dose.

Half of parents do not intend to vaccinate their children 4 and under and a quarter want to wait

Vaccines were approved for children aged 6 months to 4 years in July 2022. Since then, 18% of parents with children in this age group have vaccinated their children*. Of parents who haven’t vaccinated their children in this age group, 51% indicated that they do not plan to vaccinate their children and 40% of parents intend to vaccinate their children aged 6 months to 4 years, either as soon as possible or after some time. Between waves 2.4 and 2.5, the portion of parents who do not intend to vaccinate their children increased (from 44% to 51%, perhaps explained by uptake). The portion who intend to vaccinate their children as soon as possible continued to decrease (25% to 17%), with an increase in those who want to wait a bit (17% to 23%). *Note: Vaccine uptake in COSMO respondents was higher than real world uptake (7% of those aged 6 months to 4 years were vaccinated by Oct. 9, 2022).

Worries about children being infected with COVID-19 have decreased over time

Worries about children being infected with COVID-19 have decreased since the beginning of data collection. In October, only 9% of parents indicated that they were very or extremely worried about their children contracting COVID-19, compared to 25% in February. 20% of parents were somewhat worried and 71% reported being not at all or slightly worried about their children getting COVID-19.

Over 2/3 parents report that their children have had COVID-19

71% of parents reported that their children have or likely have been infected with COVID-19 at some point in the pandemic. Relatedly, 73% of parents report that they have or likely have been infected themselves, compared to 48% of respondents without children at home.

Sources of Information & Trust

The most trusted sources of information on COVID-19 are scientists and healthcare workers

The majority of respondents trust (4-5 out of a scale of 5) scientists (79%), healthcare workers (78%) and international health authorities (65%) for information on COVID-19. Trust in the federal government (62%) and provincial/territorial governments (59%) is also relatively high. Less than half of respondents reported trust in newspapers and other journalism and television news for information on COVID-19. There were no significant changes in trust in information sources between February and October 2022.

COVID-19 news consumption has been steady since June

News consumption about COVID-19 decreased between April and June 2022 and remained relatively stable in October.

Half of respondents reported trusting the Government of Canada

53% of respondents reported completely or moderately trusting the Canadian federal government, while 35% reported moderate or complete distrust. Women reported higher trust (59%) than men (47%). University educated respondents reported higher levels of trust (63%) than those with college (48%) or high school education (49%). Respondents from Alberta (44%) and Manitoba and Saskatchewan (42%) reported lower trust relative to other provinces.

Half agree that the federal government is competent enough to deal with COVID-19

Just under half of respondents disagreed that the federal government listens to what ordinary Canadians think about COVID-19 (47%) and that the government spends money efficiently on COVID-19 initiatives (44%). 42% agreed that the federal government is too influenced by industry regarding COVID-19. However, just under half agreed that the federal government is competent enough to deal with COVID-19 (47%).

COVID-19 Knowledge & Misinformation

Large portions are unsure whether factual statements about COVID-19 are accurate

The majority of respondents accurately rated most true statements about COVID-19 as somewhat/mostly/completely accurate. ​ However, large portions (24-43%) indicated that they were unsure whether the statements were true or false. Some respondents rated true statements as inaccurate. For example, 15% of respondents rate the statement “studies have repeatedly found that COVID-19 vaccination does not increase the risk of miscarriage” as somewhat or very inaccurate. ​

A minority of respondents indicated that false statements about COVID-19 were accurate.

A minority of respondents indicated that false statements about COVID-19 were somewhat/mostly/completely accurate. These portions ranged between 8% and 15%, depending on the statement. ​ For example, 11% of respondents rated the following statement as at least somewhat accurate: “regular use of ivermectin reduces the risk of death from COVID-19 by 92%.” Large portions of the sample were unsure about the accuracy of some of the statements. For example, 31% were unsure whether the following statement was true or false: “many European countries are banning new COVID-19 booster vaccines for younger adults and children because they are unsafe.”

>Mental Health & Wellbeing

Slight decrease in respondent life satisfaction from August

In Wave 2.5, 70% of respondents reported that they were satisfied with their lives as a whole. 7% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied and 23% were dissatisfied. Life satisfaction decreased 5 percentage points between August and October, and dissatisfaction also increased slightly. Younger respondents (18-34) reported slightly lower life satisfaction (64%) compared to those aged 35-54 (69%) and those aged 55+ (75%).

More than 2/3 respondents report good mental and physical health

70% of respondents reported that their mental health is excellent, very good or good. Younger respondents were less likely to report good mental health compared to older respondents. Residents of Ontario were also less likely to report good mental health compared to other provinces. 67% of respondents reported that their physical health is excellent, very good or good. In general, the percentages of respondents reporting good or better mental and physical health have decreased slightly since August.

Young respondents are more likely to report negative wellbeing indicators

24% of respondents reported feeling stressed most or all of the time in the past two weeks. An additional 22% reported feeling burnt out most or all of the time. Younger respondents and women were more likely to report experiencing these negative indicators most or all of the time in the past two weeks.

Pandemic Outlook & Recovery

In October, respondents were split on whether we were experiencing a wave of COVID-19

In October, 37% of respondents thought that we were experiencing a wave of COVID-19 while 41% thought that we were not and 22% were unsure. Respondents aged 55+ were more likely to think that we were in another wave (40%) compared to those aged 35-54 (38%) and 18-34 (32%). Women were also more likely to think that we were in another wave (44%) compared to men (30%).

More than half of respondents believe the worst of COVID-19 crisis has passed

In October, there was an increase in the portion of respondents who indicated that the worst of the crisis is behind us (59%) compared to the previous wave of data collection in August (47%). There was also a strong decrease in the portion that indicate they don’t know whether the worst is behind us or yet to come from August (33%) to October (20%). Consistent with previous waves of data collection, 11% of respondents indicate that they do not consider COVID-19 to be a crisis. Men (14%) were more likely than women (8%) to say that COVID-19 is not a crisis. Residents of Alberta were also more likely than residents of other provinces to think that COVID-19 is not a crisis.

One third of respondents think life already resembles pre-pandemic times

Overall, respondents were quite split on when they think life will resemble pre-pandemic times. 28% think that life will never resemble pre-pandemic times, 33% think that life already resembles pre-pandemic times, 21% think that it will be longer than six months, and 7% think it will be one to six months. Over time, there has been a significant increase in those who think life already resembles pre-pandemic times (from 3% in February to 33% in October). Respondents aged 18-34, men, and residents of Quebec were more likely to think that life already resembles pre-pandemic times. Respondents aged 55+, women and residents of Ontario were more likely to say that life will never resemble pre-pandemic times.

Cost-of-living and societal divisiveness are top-of-mind concerns, COVID impact on economy less so

Two thirds of COSMO respondents (70%) indicated that they are worried about inflation or cost-of living increases. Respondents aged 55+ and residents of BC and QC were less likely to be worried about inflation. 59% indicated that they are worried about increasing divisiveness and/or conflict in society, down from 63% in August. Respondents aged 18-34 and those with university education were more likely to be worried about increasing divisiveness in society. Concerns over the impact the COVID-19 on the economy continues to trend downwards, from 63% of respondents in February to 36% in October.

Respondents remain concerned about the healthcare system being overloaded

59% of respondents report being very or extremely worried about the healthcare system being overloaded. Older respondents (64%) and women (65%) were more likely to be worried about the health system being overloaded. 37% of respondents were worried about the pandemic’s impact on the mental health of Canadians. Older respondents (27%) and men (32%) were less worried about mental health impacts.

Most COVID-related worries, aside from health system overload, have declined over time

Over time, most health-related worries have declined. The only exception is the portion of respondents worried about the healthcare system being overloaded, which increased in August and remained steady at 59% between August and October.

Published: 2023-02-09
Last modified: 2025-05-25
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Report

COSMO Wave 2.6

Prevalence of and experiences with long-COVID, and the use of public health measures while sick and barriers to staying home

Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Opinion Research Team, Privy Council Office
Impact Canada, Impact & Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office
table with medical supplies, such as stethoscope, syringe, pills and patient chart

Key Insights

Proximity to COVID-19 & Public Health Measures: 58% of respondents reported having been - or likely having been - infected with COVID-19 at some point in the pandemic (up from 31% in June, 49% in August and 54% in October) and 13% of those who have been infected reported having experienced symptoms of Post-COVID-19 Condition. A third of respondents reported having been sick with a fever, cough, sore throat or runny nose in the past month. Among those who were sick, half reported wearing a mask while sick and three quarters stayed home when sick.

Adult Vaccination: Among respondents with 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, top reported reasons for not having gotten a 3rd dose so far were linked to: concern about side effects or not wanting to feel sick after getting the vaccine; the perception that vaccines are ineffective, that they are not curbing the spread of COVID-19 and that people are still contracting COVID after vaccination; and the perception that another dose is not needed.

Pediatric Vaccination: The top reasons provided by parents who had not yet vaccinated at least one of their children were: worries about side effects of the vaccine; the view that children are not at risk from COVID-19; the perception that vaccines were insufficiently tested; and the perception that vaccines are ineffective.

Sources of Information & Trust: Trust in information sources for COVID-19 has not shifted significantly since data collection began. 51% of respondents reported completely or moderately trusting the Canadian federal government, while 37% reported moderate or complete distrust. News consumption about COVID-19 decreased between April and June 2022 and remained low in subsequent months.

COVID-19 Knowledge & Misinformation: Large portions of the sample indicated uncertainty about the accuracy of true statements about COVID-19 – suggesting that there are knowledge gaps on COVID-19 information. A minority of respondents indicated that false statements about COVID-19 were ‘very accurate’ or ‘somewhat accurate’.

Mental Health & Wellbeing: Life satisfaction decreased slightly between August and October and remained stable in December. Younger respondents (18-34) reported lower life satisfaction and poorer mental health indicators than to older respondents.

Pandemic Outlook & Recovery: Over half of the sample (55%) indicated that the worst of the COVID-19 crisis is behind us. One third indicated that day-to-day life currently resembles pre-pandemic times, while one third indicated that life will never resemble pre-pandemic times. Over time, most of respondents’ health-related worries have declined, with the exception of worry about healthcare systems being overloaded, which has increased. Compared to worries about COVID-19, worries about inflation, increasing divisiveness in society and climate change are higher priority.

Background

From April 2020 to November 2021, Impact Canada led the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Behavioural Insights (BI) Tool on COVID-19 in the Canadian context. This study - COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO Canada) - was conducted in collaboration with the Public Opinion Research Team at the Privy Council Office and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Insights from COSMO Phase One informed the federal response to COVID-19 and enabled whole-of-government decision making to meet the specific, changing needs of citizens throughout the pandemic.

In February 2022, Impact Canada launched the second phase and will continue to monitor the evolving pandemic response context with a new sample of Canadians and a new Advisory Committee.

Methodology

With a longitudinal design, the study follows 2,000 participants recruited from an online panel over eight waves of data collection. Respondents are a representative mix of Canadian adults aged 18 years and older and results are weighted using 2016 Statistics Canada census data to mirror the population distribution in Canada. For more information on the study methodology, please visit the COSMO Canada pre-registration page .

Considerations

Data Collected: November 22 to December 15, 2022
Sample Size: 1,886

When interpreting the COSMO results, it is useful to keep in mind the context of the data collection period, which may have influenced the responses of survey participants. Prior to and during the Wave 2.6 data collection period:

  • Most Canadians were vaccinated. As of December 4, 2022, approximately 90% of the Canadian population aged 18+ had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 89% had at least two doses, 60% had at least three doses, and 27% had four doses. As of January 1, 2023, 29% of adult Canadians completed their primary series or received a booster dose in the past 6 months.
  • Among children aged 12-17, 84% had at least one dose, 80% had at least two doses, and 18% had three doses. Among children aged 5-11, 53% had at least one dose, 41% had two doses, and 6% had three doses. 8% of children four and under had one dose and 4% had two doses.
  • On October 7, Health Canada authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants. The Moderna bivalent vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.1 subvariant was approved in early September.
  • During the data collection period, there was significant news coverage on the healthcare system being overwhelmed with cases of the flu, COVID-19, and RSV.

Proximity to COVID-19 & Public Health Measures

Over half report having been infected with COVID-19 at some point

In Wave 2.6, 58% of respondents reported having been - or likely having been - infected with COVID-19 at some point in the pandemic (up from 54% in Wave 2.5). The portion of the sample reporting not having been infected with COVID-19 decreased from 69% in February to 37% in December. Respondents aged 55+ were less likely (42%) to report likely having been infected compared to those aged 35-54 (65%) and 18-34 (73%).

Among those who have had COVID-19, ¼ may have experienced symptoms of post-COVID condition

Among those who have likely had COVID-19 (58% of the sample) 13% reported having experienced symptoms of post-COVID condition (i.e. physical or psychological symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks after getting COVID-19). An additional 13% reported being unsure whether they experienced post-COVID condition. A third of all respondents report that they personally know someone who has experienced symptoms of post-COVID condition.

The most reported symptoms of post-COVID condition are fatigue and cognitive/sleep issues

The most commonly reported symptoms of post-COVID condition were fatigue, cognitive issues (memory, concentration or sleep problems), shortness of breath or difficulty breathing and muscle aches. Most respondents experienced more than one symptom. On average, respondents reported having experienced 3 symptoms of post-COVID condition.

1/4 have been tested for COVID-19 in the past month

In Wave 2.6, 27% of respondents reported having been tested for COVID-19 in the past month, either using a rapid (25%) or PCR test (2%). 14% of respondents reported that they had administered a rapid test on someone else in the past month. Testing practices were quite stable between June and December.

Adherence to most public health measures is low

A third of respondents reported often or always practicing public health measures such as wearing a face mask when it is not mandatory (35%), taking steps to improve air quality (30%) and avoiding public places and events (32%). Respondents aged 55+ and women were more likely to report often or always practicing public health behaviours. Younger respondents, men, and residents of Alberta were less likely to report practicing these measures.

Frequent mask-wearing has decreased overtime, with a slight uptick in December

The portions of respondents who reported often or always wearing a mask when it was not mandatory has declined overtime (from 57% in April to 35% in December). However, here was a slight increase in frequent mask-wearing in non mandatory scenarios in the latest wave of data collection (from 31% in October to 35% in December).

Adherence to public health measures has declined over time

In general, the portions of respondents who report often or always practicing public health measures have decreased over time. Since the summer months, those who report often or always taking steps to improve air quality and choosing to meet others outdoors have steadily declined with the colder weather. Between October and December, there was a slight uptick in those reporting often or always avoiding public places and events (from 28% to 32%).

Respondents wear masks in a variety of scenarios

Respondents who reported sometimes, often or always wearing a mask in the past month were asked in which scenarios they typically wear a mask. The top scenarios were: attending health appointments (83%); shopping at a grocery store (70%) or retail store (65%); and visiting with people who are at higher risk from COVID-19 (63%).

Over 1/3 report having been sick in the past month

35% of respondents reported having been sick with a fever, cough, sore throat or runny nose in the past month. Respondents aged 18-34 were more likely to report having been sick (46%) compared to those aged 35-54 (36%) and those aged 55+ (26%). Parents with children at home were also more likely to report having been sick (49%) compared to those without children at home (31%).

½ report wearing a mask while sick and ¾ stayed home when sick

Among those who reported having been sick in the past month, 48% reported often or always wearing a mask indoors when sharing space with others. 77% reported often or always staying home when sick. Women were more likely to often or always wear a mask while sick (52%) compared to men (33%). Similarly, women were more likely to often or always stay home when sick (83%) compared to men (72%).

Not being able to miss work or school was top reason for not staying home when sick

Among those who reported sometimes, rarely or never staying home when sick, the top reasons were not being able to miss work or school (58%), needing to pick up necessities (50%) and personal choice (37%).

Canadians’ view personal use of public health measures as effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19

Despite relatively low reported adherence to public health measures, the majority of respondents view their use of most public health measures as very or extremely effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19. For example, 57% viewed wearing a mask as a very or extremely effective measure, while only 35% reported often or always wearing a mask in non-mandatory scenarios. However, a quarter of respondents viewed wearing a mask (23%), improving indoor ventilation (24%) and isolating after having been in contact with a person with COVID-19 (25%) as slightly or not at all effective.

Most view the consistent use of public health measures by the majority of Canadians as effective

When asked how effective they view consistent use of public health measures by the majority of Canadians, most viewed the measures as very or extremely effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Participation in gatherings, events and travel has been stable over the past 6 months

In general, participation in gatherings, events and travel increased wave-to-wave between February and June and remained relatively stable between June and December. Older respondents and women were less likely to report participating in the listed activities. For example, 73% of respondents aged 55+ reporting visiting with family and friends indoors compared to the average, 81%.

Over half continue to support the reintroduction of many public health measures, if necessary

The majority of COSMO respondents indicated that they would support the introduction or reintroduction of many public health measures should they be required. The most supported measures included mask requirements (58-63%), proof-of-vaccination requirements (51-53%) and gathering limits (49%). The most opposed measures were business closures (65% opposition), school/daycare closures (52% opposition) and stay-at-home orders (53% opposition). Respondents aged 55+ and women were much more likely to support the hypothetical reintroduction of measures.

Over time, support for reintroducing public health measures if needed has gradually declined

Over time, support for reintroducing public health measures if needed has gradually declined for most measures.

Over time, support for reintroducing proof-of-vaccination requirements has decreased but ½ continue to support them

Over time, support reintroducing proof-of-vaccination requirements has decreased. However, around half continue to indicate that they would support vaccine requirements if necessary to respond to a COVID-19 outbreak. Support for proof-of-vaccination requirements varies significantly by respondents' vaccination status, with those with fewer doses being less supportive of these measures.

½ say they are likely to wear a mask for reasons other than COVID-19

Half of respondents (53%) indicated that they are likely to wear a mask in public for reasons other than COVID-19, while 40% were unlikely to wear a mask. Respondents aged 55+ and women were more likely to say that they would wear a mask for reasons other than COVID-19.

2/3 thought their province was facing a healthcare crisis as a result of respiratory illnesses

68% of respondents agreed that their province was facing a healthcare crisis from respiratory illnesses such as the flu, RSV and COVID-19. Respondents from Quebec were more likely to agree that the healthcare system was in crisis (74%) and those from BC were less likely to agree (60%).

Adult Vaccination

Over time, intentions to get a 3rd dose have declined among those with 2 doses

In December, 16% of respondents with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine indicated that they were likely to get a third dose. Over time, intentions to get a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine have decreased, from 39% in February to 16% in December, while third dose uptake has not increased meaningfully.

Concern about side effects and perception that vaccines are ineffective are top reasons for avoiding a 3rd dose

In an open-ended question, respondents with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were asked to explain their reasons for not having received a booster dose so far. Top reported reasons were linked to: concern about side effects or not wanting to feel sick after getting the vaccine; the perception that vaccines are ineffective, that they are not curbing the spread of COVID-19 and that people are still contracting COVID after vaccination; and the perception that another dose is not needed and wondering how many doses will be enough.

Protecting themselves against COVID-19 was top reason for deciding to get a 3rd dose

In an open-ended question, respondents with three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were asked to explain their main reasons deciding to get a third dose. The top reported reason was to protect themselves against COVID-19 and/or new variants.

Some respondents with 2 doses may be more likely to get a 3rd dose in certain scenarios

The top scenarios that respondents with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine indicated would make them more likely to get a third dose were: if a new more severe variant of COVID-19 began to spread (35%); if proof of a third dose were required for activities like travel (35%); and if a new vaccine were available that better prevented infection (30%). However, in most cases, a greater or similar number of respondents indicated that these hypothetical scenarios would make them less likely to get a third dose.

Over half of those with 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine intend to get a 4th

Over half (59%) of respondents with three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine indicate that it is likely that they will get a fourth dose. Intentions to get a fourth dose have decreased over time. However, this is likely explained by an increase in fourth dose uptake. Since the beginning of data collection in February, intentions to get a fourth dose (among those with three) have been much stronger than intentions to get a third dose (among those with two).

Protecting themselves against COVID-19 was top reason for deciding to get a 4th dose

In an open-ended question, respondents with four doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were asked to explain their main reasons deciding to get a fourth dose. The top reported reason was to protect themselves against COVID-19 and new variants.

New vaccines or the emergence of a more severe variant would motivate 4th dose uptake

The top scenarios that respondents with three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine indicated would make them more likely to get a fourth dose were: if a new vaccine were available that better prevented infection (73%) or targeted COVID-19 variants (66%); and if a new more severe variant of COVID-19 emerged (73%).

Just over 1/3 report getting a flu vaccine this year

Just over a third of respondents (37%) indicated that they already got flu vaccine in the 2022-2023 season and an additional 18% indicate they are likely to do so. 38% indicated that they are unlikely to get a flu shot this year. Flu vaccine uptake varied significantly by COVID-19 vaccination status. 0% of respondents who are unvaccinated for COVID-19 indicated that they got a flu shot, while 6% of those with two doses, 20% of those with three doses, 61% of those with four doses, and 81% of those with five doses indicated that they got a flu shot.

Pediatric vaccination

1/5 parents with children aged 12-17 with 2 doses intend to get their children another dose

30% of parents with children aged 12-18 indicated that their children have three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Among parents with children aged 12-17 with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, 21% intend to get their child a third dose ASAP or after some time. 50% do not intend to get their child a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. *Note: vaccine uptake in COSMO respondents was higher than real world uptake (among children aged 12-17, 84% had at least one dose, 80% had at least two doses, and 18% had three doses).

First dose vaccine uptake in children aged 5-11 has stalled, third dose uptake increasing

First dose vaccine uptake in the 5-11 age group has remained just under 60% since the beginning of data collection in February*. Second dose uptake remained consistent between June and October, at around 50%. There was a slight increase in third dose uptake – from 7% in October to 17% in December. *Note: vaccine uptake in COSMO respondents was higher than real world uptake (among children aged 5-11, 53% had at least one dose, 41% had two doses, and 6% had three doses).

Parents who have not yet vaccinated their children aged 5-11 do not intend to

The vast majority (92%) of parents who have not yet vaccinated their children aged 5-11 indicate that they do not intend to in the future.

Majority of parents with children aged 5-11 with 2 doses of vaccine intend to get their children 3rd dose

52% of parents who have already vaccinated their children aged 5-11 intend to get their child a third dose either as soon as possible or after some time. A third (31%) of parents in this group do not intend to get their child a third dose.

2/3 of parents who have not yet vaccinated their children 4 and under do not plan to

Vaccines were approved for children aged 6 months to 4 years in July 2022. Since then, 21% of parents with children in this age group have vaccinated their children*. Of parents who haven’t vaccinated their children in this age group, 60% indicated that they do not plan to vaccinate their children and 29% of parents intend to vaccinate their children aged 6 months to 4 years, either as soon as possible or after some time. Between waves October and December, the portion of parents who do not intend to vaccinate their children increased (from 51% to 60%, perhaps explained by uptake). The portion who intend to vaccinate their children as soon as possible or after some time decreased (from 40% to 29%). *Note: Vaccine uptake in COSMO respondents was higher than real world uptake (8% of those aged 6 months to 4 years were vaccinated with at least 1 dose by Dec 4, 2022).

Concern about side effects is top reason parents have not yet vaccinated their children

In an open-ended question, parents who had not yet vaccinated at least one of their children were asked to explain the reasons that their children had not yet been vaccinated. The top reason provided by parents were: worries about side effects of the vaccine (35%); the view that children are not at risk from COVID-19 (19%); the perception that vaccines were insufficiently tested (16%); the perception that vaccines are ineffective (14%).

Worries about children being infected with COVID-19 remain low

Worries about children being infected with COVID-19 have remained low since the summer months. In December, only 9% of parents indicated that they were very or extremely worried about their children contracting COVID-19, compared to 25% in February. 19% of parents were somewhat worried and 71% reported being not at all or slightly worried about their children getting COVID-19.

3/4 parents report their children have had COVID-19

73% of parents reported that their children have or likely have been infected with COVID-19 at some point in the pandemic. Relatedly, 77% of parents reported that they have or likely have been infected themselves, compared to 53% of respondents without children at home.

Under 1/5 report that their children got a flu shot this year

In December, 16% of parents reported that their children had already received a flu shot this year and an additional 19% indicated that their children were likely to get one. Over half (56%) reported that their children are unlikely to get a flu shot this year.

¼ parents reported that in recent months their children have had illnesses other than COVID-19 more than before the pandemic

26% of parents thought, in recent months, their children have been sick with illnesses other than COVID-19 more often than prior to the pandemic, while 15% thought their children have been sick less frequently than before the pandemic.

Sources of Information & Trust

The most trusted sources of information on COVID-19 are healthcare workers and scientists

The majority of respondents trust (4-5 out of a scale of 5) healthcare workers (81%), scientists (78%) and international health authorities (64%) for information on COVID-19. Trust in the federal (63%) and provincial (57%) public health leaders and federal (60%) and provincial (55%) government briefings is also relatively high. Less than half of respondents reported trust in newspapers and other journalism and television news for information on COVID-19. There were no significant changes in trust in information sources between February and December 2022.

¼ report not following the news on COVID-19 at all

Only 8% of COSMO respondents reported following the news about COVID-19 very closely and 24% reported following it pretty closely. More than one quarter of respondents (26%) reported not following the news about COVID-19 at all. Older respondents were more likely to report following the news about COVID-19.

COVID-19 news consumption has been steady since June

News consumption about COVID-19 decreased between April and June 2022 and remained stable the following months.

Social media use varies by platform

Respondents were more likely to report using Facebook (48%) and Youtube (38%) either ‘multiple times a day’ or ‘once a day’ compared to other social media platforms. Use of social media platforms varied by respondent age, with younger respondents being less likely to use Facebook and more likely to use Reddit and TikTok, compared to older respondents.​ ​

Half of respondents reported trusting the Government of Canada

51% of respondents reported completely or moderately trusting the Canadian federal government, while 37% reported moderate or complete distrust. Women reported higher trust (57%) than men (46%). University educated respondents reported higher levels of trust (65%) than those with college (47%) or high school education (46%). Respondents from Alberta (43%) and Manitoba and Saskatchewan (45%) reported lower trust relative to other provinces.

COVID-19 Knowledge & Misinformation

Large portions are unsure whether factual statements about COVID-19 are accurate

The majority of respondents accurately rated most true statements about COVID-19 as somewhat/mostly/completely accurate. ​ However, large portions (3%-45%) indicated that they were unsure whether the statements were true or false. Some respondents rated true statements as inaccurate. For example, 11% of respondents rated the statement “none of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in Canada contain the live SARS-CoV-2 virus” as somewhat/mostly/completely inaccurate. ​

A minority of respondents indicated that false statements about COVID-19 were accurate.

A minority of respondents indicated that false statements about COVID-19 were somewhat/mostly/completely accurate. These portions ranged between 3% and 9%, depending on the statement. ​ For example, 7% of respondents rated the following statement as at least somewhat accurate: “the COVID-19 vaccine enters your cells and changes your DNA.” Large portions of the sample were unsure about the accuracy of some of the statements. For example, 32% were unsure whether the following statement was true or false: “the COVID-19 vaccine interferes with the development of the placenta during pregnancy.”

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Life satisfaction has been relatively stable

In December, 71% of respondents reported that they were satisfied with their lives as a whole. 8% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied and 21% were dissatisfied. Younger respondents (18-34) reported slightly lower life satisfaction (67%) compared to those aged 35-54 (70%) and those aged 55+ (76%).

More than 2/3 respondents report good mental and physical health

70% of respondents reported that their mental health is excellent, very good or good. Younger respondents were less likely to report good mental health compared to older respondents. 69% of respondents reported that their physical health is excellent, very good or good. The portions of respondents reporting good or better mental and physical health were consistent between October and December.

Many Canadians experienced negative wellbeing at least some of the time in the past two weeks

23% of respondents reported feeling stressed most or all of the time in the past two weeks. An additional 20% reported feeling burnt out most or all of the time. Younger respondents and women were more likely to report experiencing these negative indicators most or all of the time in the past two weeks.

Most, but not all, Canadians have someone to turn to

When a series of three questions serving as a measure of social capital, the majority of respondents agreed that they have someone to turn to when they are lonely, need an emergency loan or need advice. However, 10%-15% of respondents disagreed with these statements. Female respondents were more likely than male respondents to agree that they have people to talk to when they are lonely and that they have someone to turn to for advice. Both genders were equally likely to have someone to turn to for an emergency loan. University educated respondents were more likely to agree with the statements than those with college or high school education.

Pandemic Outlook & Recovery

More than half of respondents believe the worst of COVID-19 crisis has passed

In December, just over half of respondents indicated that the worst of the crisis is behind us (55%) compared to 59% in October. A quarter of respondents were unsure whether the worst of the crisis has passed or is yet to come. Consistent with previous waves of data collection, 11% of respondents indicate that they do not consider COVID-19 to be a crisis. Men (14%) were more likely than women (8%) to say that COVID-19 is not a crisis. Residents of Alberta (15%) were also more likely than residents of other provinces to think that COVID-19 is not a crisis.

One third of respondents think life currently resembles pre-pandemic times

Overall, respondents were quite split on when they think life will resemble pre-pandemic times. 32% think that life will never resemble pre-pandemic times, 32% think that life already resembles pre-pandemic times, 20% think that it will be longer than six months, and 4% think it will be one to six months. Over time, there has been a significant increase in those who think life already resembles pre-pandemic times (from 3% in February to 32% in December).

Cost-of-living and societal divisiveness are top-of-mind concerns, COVID impact on economy less so

Two thirds of COSMO respondents (66%) indicated that they were worried about inflation or cost-of living increases. Respondents aged 55+ and residents of BC and QC were less likely to be worried about inflation. 61% indicated that they were worried about increasing divisiveness and/or conflict in society. Respondents aged 18-34 and residents of AB and ON were more likely to be worried about increasing divisiveness in society. Concern over the impact the COVID-19 on the economy continues to trend downwards, from 63% of respondents in February to 34% in December.

Respondents remain concerned about the healthcare system being overloaded

59% of respondents report being very or extremely worried about the healthcare system being overloaded. Older respondents (64%) and women (65%) were more likely to be worried about the health system being overloaded. 37% of respondents were worried about the pandemic’s impact on the mental health of Canadians. Older respondents (27%) and men (32%) were less worried about mental health impacts.

Most COVID-related worries, aside from health system overload, have declined over time

Over time, most health-related worries have declined. The only exception is the portion of respondents worried about the healthcare system being overloaded, which increased in August and remained steady at 59% between August and October.