If you’ve been feeling a little unhappy lately, you’re not alone.

According to a new Provincial COVID-19 Misery Index from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Ontario ranks as one of Canada’s most miserable provinces.

The index considers pandemic-related factors such as slow or poor response from the government, lost jobs, and the spread of sickness and death from the virus itself.

• See also:
  • Ford failing Ontario’s pandemic response during COVID-19 third wave: poll
  • Ontario shortens minimum dose interval to 28 days, but most still waiting months for second shot

Divided into three main categories, the index captures “disease misery,” “response misery,” and “economic misery” impacts in each province by measuring 11 key metrics.

Metrics also include cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population, the number of deaths related to the virus, the number of people receiving a vaccination, restrictive public health measures, and changes in unemployment, among others.

“Not surprisingly, the misery from COVID-19 has hit hardest in the provinces that have experienced the highest incidence rates of the virus,” reads the report.

Macdonald-Laurier Institute

Ontario ranked as the second most miserable province, earning a “D” score, while Quebec and British Columbia came in third and fourth for unhappiness, respectively.

As for the most miserable province in the country, that designation goes to Alberta — the province also earned a “D” score.

The Maritime provinces fared the best, and Prince Edward Island was rated least miserable with an “A+” score, followed by Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Macdonald-Laurier Institute

Ontario’s scores were spread evenly between economic misery (33.6%), disease misery (34.18%), and response misery (32.21%). High scores were received in unemployment change over 2020, as well as excess mortality.

At a national level, Canada ranked as the fifth most miserable out of 15 countries around the world, while the US came in seventh for unhappiness.

Macdonald-Laurier Institute

Spain scored the highest in the global rankings, earning the title of the least happy country on the COVID-19 Misery Index.