According to a report by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in distrust towards the government and science among Canadians. The PHAC report, based on questionnaires with 2,088 Canadians and 16 focus groups nationwide, revealed that only 22 percent of those surveyed said they were more likely to trust federal agencies since the pandemic. The report noted that trust levels towards federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government have decreased, with some respondents stating that information from the government was not always clear and at times contradictory. The study suggests that being honest and admitting mistakes may help restore trust in government. A previous study by the Privy Council Office (PCO) found that less than 50 percent of Canadians had a high degree of trust in federal institutions. Canadians were more likely to trust family, friends, and social media than the government. The PCO report emphasized the need for innovative policy-making tools to address the dangers of misinformation.