New Poll Shows Support for Vaccine Passports Remains High in Toronto Region

Residents and business leaders, respectively, see the primary benefits of a system of certifying COVID safety as:   

• Avoiding widespread lockdowns/stay at home orders (69% and 81%)   
• Ensuring the safety and health of workers in the workplace (63% and 69%)   
• Giving consumers confidence to participate in economic activities (57% and 59%)  

These findings reinforce the continued support of Ontario’s business community for this critical tool. Since early July the Board has been advocating for a proof of vaccination tool, which is critical for businesses to safely reopen, remain open and avoid future lockdowns. 

“While Ontario’s planned vaccine passport system is a good start, we believe that the best solution is one integrated, digital tool that people from Ontario, other provinces and even other countries could use to demonstrate their vaccination status. The Visitor Economy welcomed over 28 million visitors annually to Toronto pre-COVID, and this tool is essential for supporting its recovery.” 

 - Jan De Silva, President & CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade 

“The survey shows that support for proof of vaccination is high among both businesses and the general population. In the days leading up to Ontario’s decision to implement a vaccine passport, public opinion was already very supportive of the policy, particularly among those 35 and older.”  

- Dave Scholz, Executive Vice President, Leger

Report Methodology 

The report surveyed 500 residents of the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area and 59 business members of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, conducted between August 19 and August 30, 2021.

Weighting has been employed to ensure that the general population sample composition accurately reflects the adult population of the region, as per the latest census data. No margin of error can be associated with a non-probability sample (i.e. a web panel in this case). For comparative purposes, though, a probability sample of 500 respondents as is the case with the general population data would have a margin of error of ±4.4%, 19 times out of 20.