• Americans still say they are wearing face masks much more often and consistently compared to Canadians. The incidence of wearing a mask in stores and in grocery stores is over 80% in the US compared to just over 60% in Canada.
• A large number of Canadians support the government making mask wearing mandatory in public places--67%. This is highest in ON (75%) and QC (72%), but much lower in Atlantic Canada and BC (53% each). MB, SK and AB are at 57% support for mandatory mask wearing in public spaces.
• Interestingly, while mask wearing is more prevalent in the US (see point above), only 72% of Americans say mask wearing should be made mandatory—again, higher than in Canada (67%).
• Making masks mandatory in public spaces may have an impact on what activities Canadians partake in. Our poll shows ,mandatory mask wearing would result in…
• 22% of people opting to not go to a restaurant or bar;
• 11% not riding public transit (among those who ordinarily take public transit;
• 11% not going to indoor places such as offices, schools, etc.; and,
• 9% of people not going to shopping centres.
• The more compelling argument to encourage people to wear a mask is one that focuses on our civic duty to protect others from the virus. 84% of Canadians agree with this sentiment. There is sizeable minority of Canadians (27%) who agree forcing a person to wear a mask is an infringement on one’s personal freedoms.
• Not surprisingly, 41% of Americans feel forcing a person to wear a mask is an infringement on one’s personal freedoms.
• In terms of the enforcement of protective mask wearing, over two-thirds of Canadians (68%) support police issuing fines or arresting people for not complying with mandatory mask wearing rules.

• 59% of Canadians say they are afraid of contracting the virus (up one point from last week). This is highest in BC at 69% and lowest in QC at 51%. In the US, 61% say they fear contracting the virus.
• 47% of Canadians feel we have NOT reached the end of the First wave of the virus in Canada (63% of Americans are of this view).
• One-third of Canadians say the worst of the COVID-19 crisis is behind us, compared to only 19% of Americans.
• The self-identified mental health of Canadians improved slightly this week (up 2 points) and stands at 39% saying their health is excellent or very good. By comparison, 46% of Americans say their mental health is excellent or very good.
• 46% of Canadians say leaving the house is stressful—this is down 5 points from last week.
• 80% of Canadians say there will be a Second wave of COVID-19.
• Almost two-thirds of Canadians (64%) feel government should maintain the current pace of re-opening, virtually unchanged from the past couple of weeks.
• Satisfaction with the provincial governments declined this week to 79% (down 4 points), while the other two levels of government remain relatively stable (mid-low 70s). The satisfaction levels with QC, ON and BC dipped from the mid to high 80s to the lower 80s. MB and SK both see rises in satisfaction levels up 7 and 5 points respectively.

• Our poll was conducted several days after the Federal Finance Minister laid out the details of the projected $343 billion deficit, yet, even so, only 40% of Canadian correctly estimated it to be between $300 and $400 billion.
• When presented the options how to start to reduce the deficit, 2 in 10 Canadians say raise taxes and 6 in 10 say reduce program spending. Younger Canadians age 18 to 34 are more likely to say Raise taxes compared to those age 55 and older
• When asked if taxes should be raised, which ones should increase? Almost half (46%) say taxes for corporations and small businesses should be increased. 20% feel raise consumption taxes like the GST should be raised.
• Given the size of the budget deficit, 41% of Canadians support winding up the current pandemic-related programs immediately and quickly while 44% do not support this approach.