A new survey shows 45 per cent of Canadians asked, have not spoken to their neighbour in the last month.

The survey, conducted by Angus Reid in partnership with Cardus, a religious freedom institute and think tank, finds that 23 per cent of Canadians suffer from extreme social isolation and loneliness.

Social isolation involves people who have no social network, while loneliness involves people who have social networks, but for whatever reason, have no one they feel they can turn to.

Ray Pennings, Executive Vice President and Co-founder of Cardus, says social isolation and loneliness not only have impacts on individuals, but on society as a whole. He cites the cost of health care and things like payday loan companies which emerge out of social isolation.

Pennings also cites changes in the way in which we live that makes us less connected to the people around us. He says 45 per cent of Canadians asked report not having spoken to their neighbour in the last month, which shows a “significant disconnect”.

He says many in suburbia have little interaction with their neighbours.

The survey was not broken down into regions, and whether this province differs from the rest of Canada is not made clear.