SURVEY: 83 percent of respondents say Canadian governments should mandate face masks

An online survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies shows that 83 percent of respondents feel governments should order people to wear a mask in all indoor spaces, Global News reports. The online poll, conducted September 18 to 20, surveyed 1,538 Canadians over the age of 18.

This comes at a time when Canadian leaders are becoming increasingly worried about a "second wave" of the pandemic.

The poll also shows that 87 percent of respondents felt that wearing a mask was a "civic duty" because it protects others.

Just 21 percent said they felt like masks were an infringement on personal freedoms. Some who feel this way have taken to the streets for "freedom marches" to demand governments roll back mask mandates. The poll also asked about these events—88 respondents said they oppose the demonstrations.

"In a way, again, the anti-maskers are a minority and not a growing minority in Canada," Leger executive vice-president Christian Bourque told Global News.

While anti-mask sentiment is declining, it appears the fear of the virus is rising. 61 percent of respondents in this poll said they worried about catching the coronavirus, an almost 10 percent increase from when respondents were asked the same question in June.

The poll also shows that 83 percent of the respondents thought the country would go through a second wave, with two thirds of respondents saying another lockdown in the next three months is likely.

Trudeau's throne speech is taking place tomorrow. Canadians will wait and see what kind of funding could go to provinces to help in their campaign against the virus that has permeated through every facet of life since March.