More freedom for the vaccinated? A majority of Canadians approve!

According to a Leger poll, only 48 per cent of Canadians would approve of the Canada-U.S. border fully reopening at the end of August.

In fact, 66 per cent of Canadians believe that travellers should be fully vaccinated (two doses) to enter their country. This is what the Government of Canada is planning to do.

READ MORE - Ottawa relaxes border measures for fully vaccinated travellers

Just 5 per cent of Canadians believe that a visitor with only one dose of the vaccine should be allowed to enter Canada. However, 16 per cent of Canadians feel that providing a negative COVID test prior to entry could be sufficient.

Another 14 per cent of Canadians would restrict border crossings to people doing essential work, humanitarian emergencies or other situations.

Canadians vs. Americans

It is worth noting that the position of Canadians regarding the conditions of entry into their country differs significantly from that of Americans.

In fact, no less than 74 per cent of Americans would approve of the full reopening of the Canada-US border at the end of August. And only 46 per cent of our neighbors to the south believe that Canadians should be fully vaccinated to be allowed to visit.

READ MORE - Industry feedback on relaxation of border measures: cheers with caveats

About the vaccine passport...

Overall, Canadians (66 per cent) are more likely than Americans (41 per cent) to think that people who are vaccinated should have more freedom than those who are not.

For example, 58 per cent of Canadians (but only 37 per cent of Americans) are in favour of requiring a vaccination passport "for all essential and non-essential activities."

When it comes to air travel, 71 per cent of Canadians (but only 46 per cent of Americans) believe that a vaccination passport should be required.

When asked if they would be comfortable participating in outdoor activities, going to work and/or attending gatherings with friends/family knowing that unvaccinated people may be present, a majority of Americans (51 per cent) say they are comfortable, compared to 37 per cent of Canadians.

Conducted in collaboration with the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS), the survey was conducted July 16 to 18 among 1,529 Canadians and 1,001 Americans, 18 years of age or older, randomly recruited from the LEO online panel (Leger Opinion).

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!