According to a national survey taken by the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Hub for Applied and Social Research, Canadians are bullish on a post-pandemic future when it comes to new ways to do their work, but are apprehensive about dark days to come for their mental health, the economy, and for their personal finances.
In the category of positive long-term changes from COVID-19, 76 per cent reference online shopping, 72 per cent, alternate workplace arrangements, 63 per cent online education delivery, and 61 per cent, a willingness to wear a mask in public.
As for negative long-term effects, 72 per cent point to mental health and well-being, 68 per cent the economy, the economy, 65 per cent international travel, 57 per cent public events, 54 per cent children’s education, and 52 per cent personal finances.
The survey also revealed a few key gender differences, with significantly more woman than men forecasting positive impacts to personal relationships, domestic travel, and social gatherings.

“With the ramping up of our national vaccination efforts, and light at the end of the tunnel, we thought it interesting and important to look ahead to what a post-pandemic Canada may look like according to Canadians,” said Jason Disano, director of CHASR. “Much of the public opinion research collected since the onset of the pandemic have focused on the immediate or short-term impacts of COVID-19, such as adherence to public health measures and willingness to vaccinate.”

The survey was conducted in CHASR’s 20-station telephone survey facility, using random digit dialing (RDD) techniques to contact landline and cellphone numbers across Canada, and offered the survey in both official languages.

From March 1 to March 19, 1,002 people across Canada were asked by telephone what long-term impacts they perceived COVID-19 will have across 15 different categories. The results of the survey yield a margin of error or +/- 3.1% nationally (19 times out of 20, meaning the results can be considered reliable 95 per cent of the time).