Canadians Resisting Border Opening, Not Keen to Travel Abroad This Summer
May 20, 2021 Jim Byers
Canadians still don’t want the U.S. border to open, and they’re not keen to travel outside their own province this summer.
A new poll by Ipsos finds Canadians haven’t yet grown comfortable with the idea of travel, despite significant increases in vaccinations across the country.
Although the United States has a higher proportion of fully vaccinated residents, Canadians remain wary of the border re-opening, with only a quarter (25%) agreeing (9% strongly/16% somewhat) that it is now safe to re-open the Canada-US border to travellers. Men (31% vs 19% women) and those aged 18-34 (34% 18-34 vs 24% 35-54 vs 20% 55+) are more likely to agree that it is now safe for the border to re-open for travel.
Despite vaccination efforts ramping up across the country, only one quarter (26%) of Canadians agree (6% strongly/20% somewhat) that they plan on travelling outside of their province this summer. Men are more likely to travel (31% vs 21% women), as are those aged 18-34 (38% vs 26% 35-54, 18% 55+).
Looking at a regional breakdown, those residing in Alberta and Saskatchewan/Manitoba are more likely to agree that they plan on traveling outside of their province this summer (43% Alberta, 40% Saskatchewan/Manitoba vs 26% Quebec, 22% Ontario, 22% Atlantic, 21% BC).
The hesitation towards travel is more present when it comes to travelling abroad (not surprising given the border restrictions still in place), with only one in eight (15%) Canadians agreeing (4% strongly/11% somewhat) that they plan on traveling outside of Canada this summer. When it comes to venturing outside Canada’s borders, similar demographics seem more willing to be on the move: men (18% vs 12% women) and those aged 18-34 (23% 18-34 vs 14% 35-54 vs 10% 55+) are more likely to say they’ll travel outside of Canada this summer.
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