September normally marks a change in household habits as children return to school. This September promises to be unlike any other.

It is still unclear what a “return to school” means as school boards grapple with how to educate while keeping the students, teachers and support staff safe. Students that have a “learning from home” element will complicate the ability of parents to return to the workplace. A combination of school and child care will allow many parents to return to the workplace, but those who rely on public transit will be exposed to additional risks.

These three interconnected activities – returning to school or daycare, returning to the workplace, and commuting to work – are the focus of a new Consumers Council of Canada questionnaire, now open to the public. That questionnaire takes less than 10 minutes to complete, and is available here.

The Council already has been actively questioning participants of its Public Interest Network (PIN) since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The Network offers an opportunity for residents of Canada to share their views about subjects the Council is considering as part of its work.

Responses to these questionnaires expose the Council to the experiences and attitudes of participating consumers related to consumer interest and protection subjects. Council members and PIN participants may receive free copies of summaries the Council publishes based on its findings.

Members of the general public can presently purchase online Public Interest Network Perspectives: COVID-19 and Consumers, a summary report of PIN questionnaires conducted between late March and early June 2020 concerning consumer impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, now available on the Council’s online store.

The summary report identified participant views about:

• Present priorities for government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Levels of satisfaction with responses of government.
• Observations of marketplace practices.
• Thoughts about making a return to normalcy.