Vancouver – June 3, 2020 – A newly published survey from the Angus Reid Group looking at attitudes and behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic reveals that Canadians are ready for parts of the economy to reopen, with more people visiting the grocery store and a super majority saying that things are getting better when it comes to the coronavirus.   

Titled “COVID-19: Weekly Monitoring of Canadian Perceptions & Behaviour – Wave 11,” the survey interviewed Canadian adults across the country between May 25 to 26, asking people how and whether their perceptions and behaviours have changed due to COVID-19.  

The poll finds that 71 percent of Canadians believe “things are getting better” with respect to the coronavirus, while only 29 percent feel they are getting worse. 69 percent of those surveyed think it is time to start stimulating our economy back to health, with 58 percent saying that businesses and public places, like municipal parks, should start reopening.

When asked about their views on how businesses have responded to the pandemic, 80 percent of those polled believe it is “reassuring to hear from Canadian companies at this time.” 79 percent of respondents claim that “Canadian companies that take an active role during this crisis will have gained a loyal customer in me,” while 50 percent say they will no longer shop with companies that “do nothing.”  

In terms of grocery shopping habits, 94 percent of Canadians are comfortable visiting the grocery store, with 57 percent saying they “go cautiously” and 37 percent claiming they are “fine with” grocery shopping in-store.

In another sign that consumers appear to be feeling safer at stores after UFCW Canada and its Local Unions pushed for plexiglass installations, increased physical distancing, and other enhanced safety measures, only 7 percent of Canadians claim they are avoiding grocery stores altogether – a drop of 3 percent from the last time we reported on this issue.

Meanwhile, 31 percent of shoppers say they are making more meals at home, and 26 percent are using their downtime to try new recipes.

At the grocery store, 54 percent of Canadians claim they are “buying more food” in order to make fewer trips to the store, and 31 percent are “buying extra food for the longer term,” both down slightly from the last survey we reported. 23 percent of shoppers say they are purchasing more hygiene products – like hand sanitizer – as a result of COVID-19, while 22 percent claim they are buying healthier food, about the same as the last reportage. 

The survey sample was balanced and weighted based on age, gender, and province according to the latest Census data, and the results are considered accurate within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times of out 20. To see the full survey, click here.