A new report released by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms outlines the extensive and lasting damage caused by COVID-19 lockdowns in Canada, citing a dramatic decline in mental health, a rise in non-COVID deaths, strained healthcare services, economic fallout, and increased crime.The report, Five Years On: Tracing the Costs of Lockdowns, criticizes federal and provincial governments for implementing sweeping restrictions without transparent, evidence-based analysis. It argues that the measures, intended to save lives, resulted in widespread physical, social, and economic harm.Among the most significant findings is the steep drop in Canadians’ mental well-being. In 2019, 67% of Canadians described their mental health as “very good or excellent,” but by 2023, that figure had dropped to 54%. Those rating their mental health as “fair or poor” nearly doubled, rising from 8% to 15%, with young adults disproportionately affected.Non-COVID deaths among Canadians under 45 increased by 22%, with contributing factors including addiction, delayed medical care, suicide, and other diseases. Youth physical activity declined sharply, while screen time surged. As many as 70% of children and teens reported anxiety, depression, or other serious mental health issues.The opioid crisis worsened during the pandemic, with overdose deaths increasing by 108% from 2020 to 2023. In 2023 alone, 8,606 Canadians died from opioid toxicity, more than double the pre-lockdown average. The highest death rates were recorded in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, with fentanyl involved in most cases.The report also highlights the severe disruption to healthcare services. Wait times for medical treatments rose by 43% between 2019 and 2024, with the median wait reaching 30 weeks. MRI wait times increased by 55%, while surgical delays for some cancers jumped by up to 34%. Since 2018, more than 74,000 Canadians have died while waiting for surgeries or diagnostic procedures — over 15,000 in the last year alone.Economically, lockdowns hit low-income Canadians hardest. Many in hospitality, retail, and service sectors faced job losses and prolonged unemployment, while public sector employment expanded. The resulting spike in government spending and debt contributed to inflation, raising the cost of essentials like food and housing.Crime also surged. In 2022, homicides rose 17% above trend with 882 victims. Cybercrime nearly doubled, jumping from 48,000 reported cases in 2019 to more than 93,000 in 2023. Online child sexual exploitation reports skyrocketed by 173% over the same period, reaching 18,650 cases in 2023.Benjamin Klassen, Education Coordinator at the Justice Centre, said the findings demand accountability. “This report calls for governments to take responsibility for the damage done during this period and ensure that future public health policies uphold the Charter rights and freedoms of all Canadians,” he stated.“The Charter requires governments to ‘demonstrably’ justify any freedom-limiting policy. To date, no federal or provincial government in Canada has conducted the kind of comprehensive impact assessment required to justify the lockdowns.”“The evidence is clear: the harms of lockdowns outweighed their benefits. Canadians deserve an honest and transparent evaluation of lockdown harms, so that these mistakes are never repeated.”
