According to a new survey from the Angus Reid Institute, the majority of Canadians say the COVID-19 pandemic has pulled people apart and brought out the worst in people.

82 per cent say the past two years of COVID-19 has pulled people further apart, rather than bring them closer together. 79 per cent say the pandemic has brought out the worst in people, and 61 per cent say Canadians now have less compassion for one another.

70 per cent of respondents say Canada will struggle just as much in a future pandemic, with just 30 per cent saying the country is in good shape to handle a similar situation in the future.

The survey also found that the majority of Canadians, 54 per cent, have had a close friend or family member infected with COVID-19, and 58 per cent say the pandemic has significantly or severely disrupted their lives.