A large majority of Albertans are in favour of vaccine passports, a new poll conducted exclusively for the Western Standard shows..When asked by Mainstreet Research: “Do you support the use of vaccine passports/proof of vaccination for accessing non-essential services?” a total of 66% said they were in support..A total of 32% were opposed to the government’s plan, and 2% didn’t know..Opposition was proportionally fiercest compared with supporters however. Among boosters of vaccine passports, 53% “strongly support” the measure, while 13% “somewhat support” it..Opponents were almost uniformly strongly opposed at 28%, with just 4% “somewhat opposed”.. Screen-Shot-2021-10-18-at-11.43.54-AMCourtesy Mainstreet Research .Over the last several months numerous governments, organizations and corporations have introduced the use of vaccine passports..The government of Alberta imposed its “Restrictions Exemption Program” giving Albertans until November 15 to download a QR code onto their passport to get into places like restaurants and cinemas..Municipal governments like Edmonton and Calgary have also followed suit, bringing in mandatory vaccination plans for their staff and contractors..The Alberta Health Services has given their 108,600 staff until the end of the month to get jabs..Professional sports franchises like the Edmonton Elks [sic], Calgary Flames, and Calgary Stampeders also say a vaccine passport must be shown to attend their games..There have been ongoing weekend demonstrations against vaxports, not only in Calgary, but across Canada..Mainstreet President and CEO Quito Maggi said Canadians just want things to go back to the way they were before the pandemic..“Canadian’s number one wish is to get life back as normal,” he said..“And Albertans are no different, that’s why they support the vaccine passport.”.He described those against the jabs as a “vocal minority.”. Screen-Shot-2021-10-18-at-11.44.40-AMCourtesy Mainstreet Research .But it’s the “vocal minority” who need protecting,” said John Carpay, head of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms..“Locking up Japanese Canadians in work camps during the Second World War was also popular, but wrong,” said Carpay.“The very purpose of the Charter is to protect unpopular minorities from the tyranny of the majority. The Charter protects the right to express ideas and opinions that the majority regards as wrong, evil or false; the right of unpopular religious minorities to practice their faith; the right of people with unpopular views to organize, associate and assemble peacefully; and the right to defend one’s bodily autonomy by refusing a popular medical treatment..“When it comes to our fundamental freedoms, the majority opinion is irrelevant.”.“The government can only compel vaccines by providing a solid scientific basis to demonstrate that vaccinated people are not spreading the virus, and that unvaccinated people are spreading the virus. .“Evidence from heavily-vaccinated Israel, and evidence from all over the world, makes it clear that vaccinated people are spreading viruses along with the unvaccinated. Further, government data and statistics tell us COVID-19 has a 99.7% survival rate and for people under 70 is less dangerous than driving a car, so this virus does not warrant restrictions on our rights and freedoms.”.Support and opposition to vaccine passports broke out largely along partisan lines..UCP voters were largely split, with 59% were in favour with 44% against, but NDP voters supported vaxports at a whopping 94%, with only 4% against the plan..Wildrose Independence Party supporters were 77% against and 20% for..A total of 78% of those polled said they had been doubled vaccinated and 4% said they had been jabbed once..A total of 15% said they will not get vaxxed with 3% responding they hadn’t been jabbed yet, but plan to..The analysis in the report is based on the results of a survey conducted October 12-13 2021 among a sample of 935 adults, 18 years of age or older, living in Alberta. The survey was conducted using automated telephone interviews (Smart IVR). Respondents were interviewed on landlines and cellular phones. The survey is intended to represent the voting population in Alberta. .The margin of error for the poll is +/- 3.2% at the 95% confidence level. Margins of error are higher in each subsample. Totals may not add up 100% due to rounding.
A large majority of Albertans are in favour of vaccine passports, a new poll conducted exclusively for the Western Standard shows..When asked by Mainstreet Research: “Do you support the use of vaccine passports/proof of vaccination for accessing non-essential services?” a total of 66% said they were in support..A total of 32% were opposed to the government’s plan, and 2% didn’t know..Opposition was proportionally fiercest compared with supporters however. Among boosters of vaccine passports, 53% “strongly support” the measure, while 13% “somewhat support” it..Opponents were almost uniformly strongly opposed at 28%, with just 4% “somewhat opposed”.. Screen-Shot-2021-10-18-at-11.43.54-AMCourtesy Mainstreet Research .Over the last several months numerous governments, organizations and corporations have introduced the use of vaccine passports..The government of Alberta imposed its “Restrictions Exemption Program” giving Albertans until November 15 to download a QR code onto their passport to get into places like restaurants and cinemas..Municipal governments like Edmonton and Calgary have also followed suit, bringing in mandatory vaccination plans for their staff and contractors..The Alberta Health Services has given their 108,600 staff until the end of the month to get jabs..Professional sports franchises like the Edmonton Elks [sic], Calgary Flames, and Calgary Stampeders also say a vaccine passport must be shown to attend their games..There have been ongoing weekend demonstrations against vaxports, not only in Calgary, but across Canada..Mainstreet President and CEO Quito Maggi said Canadians just want things to go back to the way they were before the pandemic..“Canadian’s number one wish is to get life back as normal,” he said..“And Albertans are no different, that’s why they support the vaccine passport.”.He described those against the jabs as a “vocal minority.”. Screen-Shot-2021-10-18-at-11.44.40-AMCourtesy Mainstreet Research .But it’s the “vocal minority” who need protecting,” said John Carpay, head of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms..“Locking up Japanese Canadians in work camps during the Second World War was also popular, but wrong,” said Carpay.“The very purpose of the Charter is to protect unpopular minorities from the tyranny of the majority. The Charter protects the right to express ideas and opinions that the majority regards as wrong, evil or false; the right of unpopular religious minorities to practice their faith; the right of people with unpopular views to organize, associate and assemble peacefully; and the right to defend one’s bodily autonomy by refusing a popular medical treatment..“When it comes to our fundamental freedoms, the majority opinion is irrelevant.”.“The government can only compel vaccines by providing a solid scientific basis to demonstrate that vaccinated people are not spreading the virus, and that unvaccinated people are spreading the virus. .“Evidence from heavily-vaccinated Israel, and evidence from all over the world, makes it clear that vaccinated people are spreading viruses along with the unvaccinated. Further, government data and statistics tell us COVID-19 has a 99.7% survival rate and for people under 70 is less dangerous than driving a car, so this virus does not warrant restrictions on our rights and freedoms.”.Support and opposition to vaccine passports broke out largely along partisan lines..UCP voters were largely split, with 59% were in favour with 44% against, but NDP voters supported vaxports at a whopping 94%, with only 4% against the plan..Wildrose Independence Party supporters were 77% against and 20% for..A total of 78% of those polled said they had been doubled vaccinated and 4% said they had been jabbed once..A total of 15% said they will not get vaxxed with 3% responding they hadn’t been jabbed yet, but plan to..The analysis in the report is based on the results of a survey conducted October 12-13 2021 among a sample of 935 adults, 18 years of age or older, living in Alberta. The survey was conducted using automated telephone interviews (Smart IVR). Respondents were interviewed on landlines and cellular phones. The survey is intended to represent the voting population in Alberta. .The margin of error for the poll is +/- 3.2% at the 95% confidence level. Margins of error are higher in each subsample. Totals may not add up 100% due to rounding.
