The majority of Canadians still support the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act to shut down the so-called "Freedom Convoy" protests in early 2022, according to new data released by Nanos Research.

The survey found that 44 percent of people "support" the use of the Act, in addition to 20 percent who "somewhat support" this step.

Six percent of people "somewhat oppose" the use of this legislation, compared to 27 percent who said they "oppose" its use.

The numbers are similar to those collected nearly two years ago, in late 2022, which showed that 48 percent of participants "support" the use of the Emergencies Act in response to the protests, compared to 18 percent who "somewhat support," seven percent who "somewhat oppose," and 24 percent who "oppose."

The Emergencies Act was activated on February 14, 2022, after nearly three weeks of protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, which saw truck drivers enter downtown Ottawa and block streets.

The protesters also blocked some major border crossings between Canada and the United States.

According to Nanos Research, Canadians over the age of 55 were more likely to support or somewhat support the Emergencies Act – at 71 percent – compared to 55 percent of participants aged 18 to 34.

When the federal government relied on the Act – for the first time in its history – in 2022, it said the national security risks posed by the protests justified its use.

However, the federal court ruled last month that the use of the Act "lacks marks of reasonableness – justification, transparency, and clarity," and that it is "unjustified," with the federal government saying it plans to appeal this ruling.

The Nanos Research survey also found that two-thirds of participants either "disagree or somewhat disagree" with the necessity of financially compensating Freedom Convoy protesters by the government for measures such as freezing bank accounts.

The question was framed using the federal court's ruling that the use of the Act was unjustified, and that some powers granted to the federal government violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Fifty-seven percent of participants said they do not believe protesters should be financially compensated, in addition to 9 percent who said they "somewhat disagree."

According to the survey, 22 percent of people believe protesters should be financially compensated, along with 8 percent who "somewhat agree."

The public inquiry led by Commissioner Paul Rouleau last year – which heard from more than 70 witnesses over six weeks along with the submission of more than 7,000 documents – found that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had reached the threshold to activate the Act.