Canadians are becoming increasingly concerned about the issues of free speech and freedom, a new poll finds. Conducted by Nanos Research, the poll found that of all national issues of concern, free speech and freedom came in second as the “most important” to Canadians at 8.3 percent, just behind the coronavirus at 13.1 percent, and of higher priority than the environment at 7.5 percent. Released on March 15, the survey has tracked issues of top concern expressed by Canadians every week since its launch on Jan. 24, 2020. Nik Nanos, chief data scientist and founder of Nanos Research, said the concerns surrounding freedom are likely tied to the truckers’ protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions earlier this year. “I’ve been polling now, wow, I think it’s been for 35 years and, unprompted, freedom and free speech has not really been on the agenda or on the radar from a public …