Those of us who focus on the public affairs arena are used to paying attention to what our political leaders are saying and doing – after all, it’s our business to do so. On a normal day, we share our observations with others on our teams and with our clients, of course.

But amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve never seen the scale and frequency of communication coming from governments at all levels.

It’s hard to miss the daily doorstep press briefings delivered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and those held by his key Cabinet officials, medical officers of health and provincial premiers across the country. Every day they are present, behind a podium or on a panel – letting the country know about the latest statistics and the efforts being made by government and others to respond to the pandemic.

There is a lot of information coming at us – from guidance on protecting our health to information on how businesses and individuals can access the support they need to weather this crisis. Members of opposing political parties are even routinely praising one another for taking decisive action.

But amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve never seen the scale and frequency of communication coming from governments at all levels.

Survey says: Canadians supportive of government efforts

With all levels of government making significant efforts to communicate, and a lot for the public to take in, one wonders how these efforts are being received.  

A recent Leger survey of nearly 1,600 Canadians provides a good indication.

Seven in 10 respondents said they are either very or somewhat satisfied with measures put in place at the federal level to fight the pandemic. Eight in 10 feel the same about provincial measures, with two-thirds expressing these views about their local government.  

There also appears to be an appetite for added diligence, with many respondents showing support for granting authorities additional powers to deal with those not respecting the measures that have been put in place so far.

These findings suggest that Canadians are both tuning in and appreciating what they are hearing. This should be encouraging to all levels of government in Canada while they continue to make unprecedented efforts to communicate with citizens across the country. Canadians, clearly, are listening.

If your organization needs support or advice in these uncertain times, here’s where you can find the latest news, insights and resources related to COVID-19.

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