Canadians still reluctant to hand out Halloween candy: poll
Posted October 26, 2021 6:20 am.
Last Updated October 26, 2021 8:54 pm.
Halloween returns after being all but cancelled in many parts of the country last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
While most Canadian parents say they plan to take the little ones trick-or-treating on Sunday — a new survey suggests not everyone is comfortable with opening their doors.
The study by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found that over 90 per cent of respondents whose kids trick-or-treated last year plan to allow them to go out again this year.
In addition to those who went out last year, Leger executive vice-president Christian Bourque says some parents who kept their kids at home may allow them to hit the pavement this year considering the high vaccination rates now versus the absence of vaccines a year ago.
Despite an increased willingness to go trick-or-treating, the poll found fewer than half of Canadians (44 per cent) say they will be opening their doors to trick-or-treaters due to the ongoing pandemic.
Of the 56 per cent who say they won’t be handing out candy this year, half of them (28 per cent) said they would typically welcome trick-or-treaters in a normal year.
Conducted Oct. 22 to 24, the online poll surveyed 1,512 Canadians and cannot be assigned a margin of error because internet-based polls are not considered random samples.
Halloween was essentially cancelled in Toronto and much of the GTA last year due to the pandemic — but the provincial government has released guidelines for safely celebrating this year.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore recommends kids trick-or-treat outside as much as possible, meaning handing out candy on the porch is optimal, if possible. He also recommends keeping interactions with trick-or-treaters brief and encouraging them to move along after receiving the candy.
Moore is also recommending that kids get creative and consider using a face covering as part of their costumes.
Last year, Ontario recommended that kids in the four COVID-19 hot spots of Toronto, Ottawa, Peel and York Regions should refrain from trick-or-treating.
With files from the Canadian Press
