Ontarians blaming Ottawa for shortages
Majority of those polled believe that ‘stay home’ measures are appropriate
Most Ontarians blame the federal government for the current shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, a new poll has found.
The Campaign Research survey suggests 52 per cent believed it was Ottawa’s fault that supplies are low, while 15 per cent pointed the finger at the provincial government with one per cent citing municipalities and 32 per cent unsure.
“Ontarians are very clear about who they blame for this,” Campaign Research principal Nick Kouvalis said Monday.
“The federal government is really not getting a pass and should be extremely concerned,” said Kouvalis. “They do lots of polling of their own and I am sure they are seeing similar numbers.”
Production delays and worldwide demand have hindered shipments of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the only two currently approved for use by Health Canada. The shortfall is expected to persist for another two weeks.
Campaign Research polled 1,427 people across Ontario from Thursday through Saturday using Maru/Blue’s online panel.
It is an opt-in poll, but for comparison purposes, a random sample of this size would have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Kouvalis, who has worked with Conservative and Liberal candidates across Canada and managed the winning Toronto mayoral campaigns of Rob Ford and John Tory, noted 65 per cent of respondents were aware Ottawa has sole responsibility for vaccine procurement.
About one-fifth — 19 per cent — believed the province is in charge of purchasing vaccines with four per cent thinking it was a municipal concern and 12 per cent unsure.
More than half — 55 per cent — said the provincial government was responsible for dispensing vaccines with 24 per cent suggesting it was Ottawa and 11 per cent felt it was municipalities and 10 per cent were uncertain.
The monthly tracking poll found significant support for Ontario’s current “stay home” measures aimed at curbing the spread of infections.
Nearly four-fifths — 78 per cent — agreed with the 28-day state of emergency that took effect Jan. 14, restricting nearly all retailers, except supermarkets and pharmacies, to curbside service and limiting restaurants and bars to takeout meals and drinks.
Only 19 per cent disagreed and four per cent were unsure.
Similarly, 76 per cent supported the closure of most schools that have forced millions of students in Ontario to do their studies online from home.
While some regions reopened in-class learning last Monday, schools in and around the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area will be closed until at least Feb. 10.
Respondents were divided on whether it would be safe to reopen schools at that time.
Some 44 per cent said elementary students could return safely at that time, but 39 per cent felt they couldn’t with 17 per cent unsure.
For high school students, 43 per cent said they could be back in classrooms on Feb. 10, while 41 per cent said they couldn’t and 16 per cent were uncertain.
“Voters are pretty evenly divided over whether schools should be coming back,” said Kouvalis. “It’s crystal clear that the public agrees with the government’s ‘stay home’ order.”