As flights continue to whisk Canadians off to warmer climes, a majority of Canadians would be OK with the government closing borders to international travel given a rise in COVID-19, according to a new poll.
The Angus Reid Institute poll, released Thursday, found 65 per cent say if the decision were up to them, they would prohibit personal travel.
One-quarter (26 per cent) said they would maintain the federal government’s approach, which has been to strongly discourage such travel, but not disallow it.
Support to close travel to international destinations was highest in Ontario and lowest in Alberta. In B.C., only 59 per cent agreed with this idea.
The poll also found that seven in 10 Canadians have cancelled or put off planned international travel or domestic travel since the pandemic began, which Angus Reid says suggests their sacrifices may contribute to a hard-line approach against those who have chosen to travel.
Nearly nine in 10 say that while travelling abroad may not be illegal, politicians should be held to a higher standard and stay home, according to the poll.
The poll found concern about the virus is still top of mind for Canadians, with 71 per cent saying they are worried about becoming sick, while 85 per cent are concerned about their friends or family.
Angus Reid also says the number of Canadians saying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is doing a good job in handling the pandemic has dropped four points since November to 50 per cent.
The online survey of 1,601 Canadian adults was conducted from Jan. 7 to 11. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Source: VANCOUVER SUN
