Canadians are now less satisfied with provincial and federal governments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic than two years ago.

  • Half of Canadians are satisfied with their provincial government’s response to the pandemic, marking a 20-point decline compared with 2020.
  • Meanwhile, six-in-ten Canadians express some level of satisfaction with the federal government’s response – a decrease of six-points.

May 4, 2022

As the country transitions to managing the pandemic with eased restrictions, we asked Canadians to rate their level of satisfaction with their provincial government and the federal government’s handling of COVID-19. Residents were previously asked this question in September 2020, and since then, levels of satisfaction for both the provincial and federal government have declined.

Satisfaction with provincial governments’ response has decreased most significantly in the last two years. In 2020, three-quarters of Canadians were mostly/completely satisfied with their provincial government’s response to COVID-19. Now, just 54 percent of residents express some level of satisfaction – representing a reduction of 20 points. Meanwhile, satisfaction with the federal government’s response to COVID-19 has decreased, but only marginally. Six-in-ten respondents are currently satisfied with the federal government’s response, whereas in 2020, this figure was at 66 percent.

Attitudes of those in the Prairies have become more negative. Compared to other regions, residents here are more likely to be completely dissatisfied with the responses of both the provincial (36%) and federal governments’ response to the pandemic (23%). Indeed, this proportion has increased since 2020 by 23-points and 6-points, respectively. Meanwhile, Ontarians are also less satisfied with both levels of government, with sharp decreases in satisfaction with both level of governments’ response.

In contrast, residents of Quebec, BC/North, and the Atlantic are more likely to indicate satisfaction with their provincial governments (74%, 69% and 68%, respectively). More residents in the Atlantic region are also satisfied with the federal government’s response (70%) compared to other regions, and residents of Quebec are now more satisfied with the federal government’s response than they were two years ago.


Results shown are from a survey conducted in partnership between Narrative Research and the Logit Group. The survey was conducted online between April 12 and 18, 2022 with 1,233 Canadians 18 years of age or older from the Logit Group’s Canadian Omnibus. Data was weighted based on the 2016 Census, by gender, age, and region to reflect these population characteristics in each province. As a non-probability sample (i.e., a panel sample where residents have joined a panel to share their opinions), and in accordance with CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards, a margin of error is not applied.   

The question included in this press release included the following:

Overall, how satisfied are you with the response of each of the following to the COVID-19 crisis:

  1. Federal government
  2. Provincial government
    • Completely satisfied
    • Mostly satisfied
    • Mostly dissatisfied
    • Completely dissatisfied
    • Not sure

For more information, contact:

Margaret Chapman, COO, Narrative Research – 902.222.4048, mchapman@narrativeresearch.ca

OR

Sam Pisani, Managing Partner, Logit Group – 416.629.4116, sam.pisani@logitgroup.com

Narrative Research (www.narrativeresearch.ca), is a leading public opinion and market research company headquartered in Canada. The company was recently certified as a WBE (Women Business Enterprise). As a non-partisan, 100% Canadian-owned research company, Narrative Research is dedicated to providing clients with state-of-the-art research and strategic consulting services. 

The Logit Group (https://logitgroup.com/) is a leading North American data collection and market research execution company headquartered in Toronto, conducting large-scale projects for a variety of well-known research agencies and brands. Logit employs industry-best technologies across an array of methodologies, and is independent, experienced and quality-oriented. 

Follow us on Twitter at @EveryNarrative and @LogitGroup

Click here to read as a PDF.