Pandemic pulled Canadians apart, brought out the worst: Poll

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If you haven’t been living it, a new poll confirms some dark truths about the pandemic in Canada for the last two years.

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A joint Angus Reid Institute and CBC study says 82% of respondents believe COVID-19 pulled people apart as opposed to the 18% who say it brought them together.

Another 79% said the pandemic brought out the worst in the people, contrary to the 21% who felt it brought out the best.

The online survey, conducted between March 1-4, received responses from 2,550 Canadian adults.

The poll also found 61% say the level of compassion that Canadians feel for one another has weakened.

The study says another 70% believe Canada will “struggle just as much” in the next pandemic while only 30% say the nation is in “good shape” to handle a similar plague.

OK, that’s the bad news.

Some good news: 70% are “thankful to be living in Canada” through this time.

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Other findings include 54% of Canadians said they had a close friend or family member who had COVID-19 while 36% had an infection in their household.

Another 11% said the pandemic severely affected their life while 47% said it was significant.

If you are 35 years old or younger, two-thirds of both men and women called it significant or severe.

The poll found 72% of Canadians postponed travel at some point, 48% delayed medical appointments and 26% delayed a more serious medical procedure or surgery during the last two years.

Another 11% relocated during the pandemic, with 18% of B.C. residents most likely to say this while 13% in Ontario said the same.