A Report To

The Globe and Mail and CTV

A Tale of Two Nations

State of Canadian/American Public Opinion

June 2008

2

Introduction and Methodology

The Strategic Counsel is pleased to present findings of a parallel bi-national survey of 1,000 Canadians and 1,000 Americans.

Results are based on random national samples of Canadians and Americans 18 years of age or older, and were weighted by age and region to be proportionate to the population as a whole.

Interviews were conducted between June 12th to 22nd, 2008.

A proportionate random national sample has a margin of error of 3.1% nineteen times out of twenty. The margin of error will he higher for regional and demographic sub-samples .

Note: Proportions may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

3

Overall Summary Americans are in a markedly more pessimistic mood than Canadians. They are much more inclined to think their

country is on the wrong track and more pessimistic about the safety of their nation and world in general.

Americans generally view Canadians more benignly than we view Americans. However, Canadians are less insistent upon our fundamental difference than they were in the more polarizing period after 9/11 and around the invasion of Iraq.

That said, almost half of Canadians have a more negative view of the US than they did a few years ago. And Canadians are twice as likely to think the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated.

Canadians are as divided on free trade as Americans. This is a major finding. Given the prominence of the issue in the US in recent years – and especially in the presidential primaries, it’s not surprising that opposition is high in that country. In Canada, with broad, cross-party support for free trade and almost universal buy in from our media, government and business elites, the high level of opposition will surprise many. This is a sleeper issue among Canadians.

When it comes to envying one’s neighbour, we’ve come up with interesting findings: Canadians admire Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton more than we do most of our own political leaders – perhaps that’s why we’re more pessimistic about our next election than they are about theirs. But Americans think Canada made the right decision staying out of the Iraq War, and they are more likely to think that the Canadian health care system is better than their own.

Canadians tend to see themselves as more liberal and Americans see themselves as more conservative – and this is reflected in their views on issues from the US role in the world (right vs. might), church attendance, health care and support for gay marriage. Interestingly, on most of these issues, Americans seem more EVENLY divided than Canadians.

Canada/U.S. Relations

5

33%

19%

1%

6%

6%

14%

4%

6%

1%

1%

5%

3%

What Canadians Think:

Americans are a lot more focused on economic issues compared to Canadians

18%

18%

16%

11%

9%

6%

3%

2%

2%

1%

1%

1%

1%

5%

8%

Economic/Unemployment Issues

Gas Prices

Environmental Issues

Health Care

Social/Moral Issues

Iraq/Afghanistan/Terrorism/Foreign Policy Issues

Crime/Violence

Energy/Oil Issues

Political Issues

Canada-US Relations

Education

Government Spending/Deficit

Taxes

Other

None/Don't Know

What Americans Think:

Q. In your opinion, what is the most important issue facing [Canada] [the U.S.] today, that is, the one that you are most concerned about?Base: All respondents

<1%

Economic/Unemployment Issues

Gas Prices

Environmental Issues

Health Care

Social/Moral Issues

Iraq/Afghanistan/Terrorism/Foreign Policy Issues

Crime/Violence

Energy/Oil Issues

Political Issues

Canada-US Relations

Education

Government Spending/Deficit

Taxes

Other

None/Don't Know

<1%

<1%

6

Gas Prices is Now Tied with Economy as #1 Issue

Q. In your opinion, what is the most important issue facing [Canada] [the U.S.] today, that is, the one that you are most concerned about?Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think:

2005 2006 2007 2008

May 7-8

Jun 8-9

Aug 3-7

Nov 3-4

Nov 24-27

Jan 4-5

Jul 12-15

Jan 11-14

Jul12-15

Jan10-13

June 12-22

n= 1000 1000 1000 1000 1500 1500 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000

% % % % % % % % % % %

Economic/Unemployment Issues 7 7 10 6 9 8 9 10 9 12 18

Gas prices - <1 2 - - 1 4 <1 1 3 18

Environmental issues 3 7 9 3 3 4 12 26 23 22 16

Healthcare 20 15 16 24 20 25 20 18 16 12 11

Iraq/Afghanistan/Terrorism/War/Foreign Policy Issues - 2 8 1 <1 1 7 6 10 8 6

Crime/violence 1 3 3 - 2 10 3 3 2 3 3

Political Issues 8 18 7 8 6 8 7 6 9 4 2

Taxes 4 1 3 5 5 3 4 3 3 3 1

Education 3 3 2 4 5 2 4 3 3 2 1

Government spending 4 6 5 2 6 2 3 3 1 1 1

Government scandals/Corruption 23 11 2 16 13 8 1 1 1 1 -

7

Americans see their country on the wrong track, while Canadians continue to be more positive, but this is softening.

Q. Right now, do you think that overall the country is on the right track or the wrong track?Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

Wrong Track71%

Right Track22%

Don't know

7%

Wrong Track40%

Right Track49%

Don't know11%

Jun 6-9, 2008 48

Feb 14-17, 2008 60

Aug 9-12, 2007 57

Feb 15-18, 2007 55

Jul 13-16, 2006 61

Nov 24-27, 2005 47

Jun 6-9, 2005 49

May 12-15, 2005 38

Income $100k+ 59%

Conservative Minded* 56%

Age 18-34 53%

Right Track

Income <$50k 43%

Liberal Minded* 47%

Age 50+ 44%

Income <$50k 77%

Liberal Minded* 86%

Age 50+ 75%

Wrong Track

Income $50k-$99k 67%

Conservative Minded* 63%

Age 35-49 67%

8

Essentially the Same

13%

Mainly the Same37%

Essentially Different

19%

Don't know1%

Mainly Different

30%

Canadians are modestly less likely to think that they are different from Americans compared to 2004

Q. Would you describe Canadians and Americans as essentially different, mainly different but with some small similarities, mainly the same but with some small differences, or essentially the same?

Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

Essentially the Same

24%

Mainly the Same46%

Essentially Different

6%

Don't know9%

Mainly Different

15%

2006 6 44 32 17 1

2004 12 32 23 31 2

2002 7 34 29 28 2

1999 8 44 23 24 2

1990 12 37 26 25 -

1989 13 43 24 19 1

1999 19 52 12 8 9

1990 26 43 14 10 7

1989 18 60 15 6 1

9

Both Americans and Canadians agree that relations with each other are friendly, but not close

Q. How would you describe our relations with [the United States] [Canada]? Are we …. like family to each other, the best of friends, friends but not especially close, cordial but distant with each other, or openly hostile and unfriendly?

Base: All respondents

Like Family 7%

Best of Friends

13%

Cordial, but Distant

27%

Openly Hostile and Unfriendly

1%

Don't Know 2%

Friends, but not close

50%

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

2006 6 11 46 30 3 4

2003 4 10 45 32 5 4

2002 5 17 49 25 3 1

2001 10 23 47 18 1 1

Like Family 7%

Best of Friends

17%

Cordial, but Distant

22%

Openly Hostile and Unfriendly

1%

Don't know 6%

Friends, but not close

48%

Best of FriendsBest of Friends Cordial but Distant Cordial but Distant

Age 50+ 23%Border states 20%Men 20%

Age 18-34 29%West 25%Women 23%

Men 18%Income $100k+ 16%

Quebec 37%

10

Americans are more inclined to choose Canadian citizenship while the reverse option is less appealing to Canadians

Q. If you were given the opportunity to become a citizen of [the U.S.] [Canada] and live and work there, would you?Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

% Yes % Yes

27% 30%26% 25%

1989 1990 1999 2008

27% 30%25%

30%

1989 1990 1999 2008

11

However, a much higher percentage of Canadians say they will travel to the USA than vice versa

Q. Do you plan to visit [the U.S.] [Canada] in the next 12 months?Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

No81%

Yes18%

Don't know

1%

No50%

Yes47%

Don't know

2%

Income $100k+ 74%Graduated col./univ. 54%Ontario 55%

Yes, Plan to Visit the US

Income <$50k 32%High school or less 36%Quebec 40%

Income $100k+ 26%Graduated col./univ. 22%Border states 33%

Yes, Plan to Visit Canada

Income $50k-$99k 15%High school or less 14%Non-border states 14%

12

A lot more positive

2%

Somewhat more

negative30% A lot more

negative17%

Don't know1%

More positive7%

Remained the same44%

Canadians’ perceptions of the U.S. have become more negative

Q. In the last few years, would you say your attitudes toward [the U.S.] [Canada] have become a lot more positive, somewhat more positive, have remained unchanged, have become somewhat more negative, or become a lot more negative?

Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

2006 3 4 44 30 18 1

2004 5 6 34 28 24 3

2003 5 8 37 31 18 2

2002 7 10 45 22 14 2

A lot more positive

6%

Somewhat more

negative4%

A lot more negative

1%

Don't know3%

More positive11%

Remained the same75%

9%

47%

17% 5%

More Positive of U.S. More positive of CanadaMore Negative of U.S More Negative of CanadaIncome <$50k 12%

Conservative Minded* 11%

Income $100k+ 50%

Liberal Minded* 54%

Quebec 53%

Men 21%

Liberal Minded* 20%

Northeast 10%

Age 50+ 7%

13

Canadians are more likely to think that relations with the U.S. have eroded

Q. Do you think relations between Canada and the U.S. have improved, worsened, or stayed the same in recent years?Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

16% 31% 2%51%

Improved Stayed the sameWorsened Don't Know

Men 19%Conservative Minded* 19%West 19%Right track 19%

ImprovedWomen 33%Liberal Minded* 34%Atlantic 46%Wrong Track 39%

Age 50+ 13%Conservative Minded* 12%South 14%Right track 13%

ImprovedAge 50+ 16%Liberal Minded* 19%Border states 17%Wrong track 17%

Worsened Worsened

11% 14% 9%66%

Improved Stayed the sameWorsened Don't Know

Free Trade

15

Canadians are more likely than Americans to think that free trade has been a bad thing for their respective countries.

Q. Would you say the Free Trade Agreement has been a good thing or a bad thing for [Canada] [America]?Base: All respondents

Bad thing for

America36%

Good thing for America

46%

Don't know18%

Don't know13%

Good thing for Canada

43%

Bad thing for

Canada44%

Good thing for Canada Good thing for America

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

Bad thing for Canada Bad thing for America

Right track 60%Age 18-34 53%Graduated col./univ. 51%West 53%

Wrong track 43%Age 50+ 44%High school or less 41%Northeast 43%

Right track 56%Age 18-34 48%Graduated col./univ. 49%Income $100k+ 55%

Wrong track 57%Age 50+ 50%High school or less 47%Income <$50k 52%

16

Plus, Canadians are more likely than Americans to think that free trade has been a bad thing for themselves personally

Q. For you personally, would you say the Free Trade Agreement has been a good thing or bad thing?Base: All respondents

Don't know23%

Good thing for

me45%

Bad thing for me32%

Bad thing for me37%

Good thing for

me44%

Don't know19%

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

Good thing for me Good thing for meBad thing for me Bad thing for me

Right track 57%Age 18-34 54%Graduated col./univ. 50%Income $100k+ 54%

Wrong track 37%Age 50+ 40%High school or less 41%Income <$50 34%

Right track 56%Age 18-34 49%Men 50%Income $100k+ 57%

Wrong track 50%Age 50+ 41%Women 41%Income <$50k 46%

17

Canadians think that the US has benefited more from free trade

Q. Do you feel that Canada has benefited more than the United States from the Free Trade Agreement, that it has had the same effect on both sides of the border, or that the United States has benefited more than Canada?

Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

9%

22%

60%

10%

Canada hasbenefited

more

Same effecton both sides

U.S. hasbenefited

more

Don't Know

23%

38%

12%

27%

Canada hasbenefited

more

Same effecton both sides

U.S. hasbenefited

more

Don't know

Women 64%Quebec 67%Age 35-49 64%

U.S. has benefited more

Men 56%Ontario 56%Age 18-34 54%

Men 29%High school or less 28%Midwest 26%

Canada has benefited more

Women 18%Graduated col./univ. 21%West 19%

18

Both Canadians and Americans do not want open borders for unrestricted access to resources

Q. Some people feel that Canada that true free trade between Canada and the U.S. would include unrestricted access to fresh water, oil and gas on both sides of the border. Others say that some limits should be placed on access to fresh water, oil and gas because these are critical national resources. Which point of view most closely reflects your own?

Base: All respondents

What Americans Think:

Don't know9%

There should be

limits placed on sccess to

resources68%

There should be

unrestricted access to resources

23%

Income $100k+ 77%Graduated col./univ. 75%Northeast 74%

Should be limits

Income <$50k 63%High school or less 60%South 61%

Graduated col./univ. 92%Some post-sec. 91%High school or less 79%

West 91%Ontario 87%Quebec 88%

What Canadians Think:

Don't know3%

There should be

limits placed on sccess to

resources88%

There should be

unrestricted access to resources

9%

Should be limits

19

What Americans Think:What Canadians Think:

Both Canadians and Americans believe their countries have lost jobs because of free trade

Q. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements: “My country has lost jobs because of Free Trade”

Base: All respondents

60

29

31

22

9

31

9

TOTAL Agree

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

TOTAL Disagree

Don't Know

Age 50+ 72%

Men 71%

Midwest 71%

Total Agree

Age 18-34 63%

Women 65%

West 63%

Ontario 64%

Liberal Minded* 63%

Some post-sec. 66%

West 55%

Conservative Minded* 58%

High school or less 57%

Total Agree

68

39

29

17

7

24

8

TOTAL Agree

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

TOTAL Disagree

Don't know

20

What Americans Think:What Canadians Think:

Higher proportion of Canadians than Americans believe that free trade has led to new prosperity and opportunity in their country

Q. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements: “Free Trade has created new prosperity and opportunity in my country”

Base: All respondents

47

10

37

27

19

46

7

TOTAL Agree

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

TOTAL Disagree

Don't Know

Income $100k+ 46%Age 18-34 45%West 43%

Total Agree

Income <$50k 36%Age 50+ 33%Midwest 37%

Age 18-34 56%Income $100k+ 54%Men 54%

Age 50+ 40%Income <$50k 42%Women 40%

Total Agree

40

7

33

28

24

52

9

TOTAL Agree

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

TOTAL Disagree

Don't know

21

What Americans Think:What Canadians Think:

Americans are more likely to say that products are more affordable because of free trade

Q. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements: “Free Trade has made goods more affordable”

Base: All respondents

47

11

36

26

21

47

6

TOTAL Agree

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

TOTAL Disagree

Don't Know

Income $100k+ 70%Age 35-49 59%Graduated col./univ. 58%

Total Agree

Income <$50k 46%Age 18-34 49%High school or less 42%

Income $100k+ 56%Age 18-34 55%Men 53%

Income <$50k 42%Age 35-49 40%Women 41%

Total Agree

52

17

35

21

19

40

9

TOTAL Agree

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

TOTAL Disagree

Don't know

22

What Americans Think:What Canadians Think:

Both reject the notion that their middle classes have benefited from free trade

Q. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements: “Free Trade has benefited the middle class”

Base: All respondents

43

9

34

25

25

50

7

TOTAL Agree

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

TOTAL Disagree

Don't Know

Income $100k+ 52%Income $50k-$99k 35%Income <$50k 43%

Total Agree

Graduated col./univ. 44%Some post-sec. 47%High school or less 32%

Income $100k+ 53%Income $50k-$99k 44%Income <$50k 40%

Men 48%Women 38%High school or less 35%

Total Agree

41

9

32

24

26

50

9

TOTAL Agree

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

TOTAL Disagree

Don't know

U.S. and Global Security

24

Canadians want the security levels to be less strict, while Americans want tighter restrictions

Q. Thinking about border security between Canada and the U.S., would you say that the current level of security is too restrictive and prohibits the easy movement of goods and people between countries, that the level of security is about right, or that the current level of security is not strict enough ad should be tightened up?

Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

27%

45%

25%

4%

Current levelof security is

toorestrictive

Level ofsecurity isabout right

Current levelof security is

not strictenough

Don't know

14%

47%

31%

8%

Current levelof security is

toorestrictive

Level ofsecurity isabout right

Current levelof security is

not strictenough

Don't know

Men 33%

West 31%

Income $100+ 30%

Current level of security is too restrictive

Women 21%

Quebec 23%

Income <$50k 25%

High school or less 39%

Some post-sec. 30%

Graduated col./univ. 27%

Current level of security is not strict enough

Conservative Minded* 36%

Liberal Minded* 25%

South 36%

25

Americans are more likely to believe that the world is safer since 9/11

Q. Do you think the world is safer, not as safe, or about as safe today as it was before 9/11 2001?Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

11%

41%47%

1%

Safer About as Safe Not as Safe Don't know

19%

33%

47%

1%

Safer About as Safe Not as Safe Don't know

Age 18-34 36%

Age 35-49 44%

Age 50+ 55%

The world is not as safe

Income <$50 54%

Income $50k-$99k 46%

Income $100k+ 37%

The world is not as safe

Age 50+ 58%

Liberal Minded* 53%

Wrong track 56%

Age 18-34 37%

Conservative Minded* 44%

Right track 26%

26

The majority of Canadians believe their country is as safe as before 9/11. Americans are more inclined to say the U.S. is not as safe, but twice as many Americans as Canadians believe their country is safer

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

12%

52%

36%

Safer About as Safe Not as Safe

24%32%

44%

Safer About as Safe Not as Safe

Age 18-34 27%

Age 35-49 33%

Age 50+ 43%

Canada is not as safe

Income <$50k 43%

Income $50k-$99k 33%

Income $100k+ 31%

The U.S. is not as safe

Age 50+ 53%

Liberal Minded* 54%

Wrong track 52%

Age 18-34 34%

Conservative Minded* 37%

Right track 22%

Q. Do you think [Canada] [the U.S.] is safer, not as safe, or about as safe today as it was before 9/11 2001?Base: All respondents

27

Not surprisingly, Canadians are more much more likely to think that the Iraq War was the wrong decision

Q. Do you believe the U.S. Government made the right or wrong decision to become involved in the Iraq War?Base: All respondents

What Americans Think:

Wrong decision

54%

Right decision40%

Don't know6%

Right Decision

What Canadians Think:

Right Decision

Wrong decision

82%Right decision

12%

Don't know6%

Right track 71%Conservative Minded* 58%South 47%Men 46%

Wrong track 65%Liberal Minded* 79%Midwest 61%Women 58%

Wrong Decision Wrong Decision

Liberal Minded* 88%Quebec 91%

Conservative Minded* 20%West 15%Income $100k+ 15%Men 14%

28

But Americans acknowledge that Canada’s refusal to participate in the Iraq war was a good decision

Q. In 2002, the government of Canada refused to join the US in the Iraq War. Do you think the Canadian decision was a very good, a good, a poor decision or a very poor decision?

Base: All respondents

What Americans Think:What Canadians Think:

86

48

38

9

3

12

2

TOTAL Good Decision

Very good decision

Good decision

Poor decision

Very poor decision

TOTAL Poor Decision

Don't Know

Liberal Minded* 77%

Wrong track 66%

Age 18-34 66%

Total Good Decision

Conservative Minded* 42%

Right track 48%

Age 50+ 35%

Liberal Minded* 92% Conservative Minded* 20%

Total Good Decision

59

18

41

23

9

32

9

TOTAL Good Decision

Very good decision

Good decision

Poor decision

Very poor decision

TOTAL Poor Decision

Don't know

Total Poor Decision Total Poor Decision

29

Both Canadians and Americans believe that the US has less influence in the world compared to 10 years ago.

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

17%23%

59%

2%

Moreinfluence

About thesame

Lessinfluence

Don't know

12%

22%

65%

1%

Moreinfluence

About thesame

Lessinfluence

Don't know

Age 18-34 24%

Income <$50k 22%

More Influence

Age 50+ 68%

Income $100k+ 72%

More influence

Age 18-35 21%

Conservative Minded* 15%

Right track 15%

Age 50+ 77%

Liberal Minded* 80%

Wrong track 73%

Q. Do you think the United States has more influence, less influence or about the same amount of influence around the world today as it did ten years ago?Base: All respondents

Less Influence Less Influence

30

Canadians are more concerned about US prestige in the world, Americans are focused more on protecting US interests

What Americans Think:

The standing of the US is

low and this breeds anti-

USA terrorism

41%

America has to look after

its own interests

54%

Don't know5%

High school or less 68%Conservative Minded* 67%Right track 71%

Look After Own Interests

Graduated col./univ. 48%Liberal Minded* 61%Wrong track 46%

High school or less 49%Conservative Minded* 46%Income <$50k 45%

Graduated col./univ. 62%Liberal Minded* 64%Income $100k+ 67%

What Canadians Think:

The standing of the US is

low and this breeds anti-

USA terrorism

56%

America has to look after

its own interests

37%

Don't know7%

Look After Own Interests

Q. Some people say that the standing of the United States is low around the world, and that this kind of opportunity is bad for America, and it even breeds anti-American terrorism abroad. Other people say that whether or not America is popular abroad doesn’t really matter, and the only thing that matters is that America has to look after its own interests and aggressively defend itself against international terrorism. Which view is closer to your own?

Base: All respondents

Breeds Terrorism Breeds Terrorism

U.S. Election

32

Both Canadians and Americans see Obama as a ‘game changer’ regarding America’s image in the world

Q. If Barack Obama, the likely Democratic candidate in the upcoming presidential election, were to become the next President of the United States, do you think that America’s image abroad would improve significantly, improve somewhat, stay about the same, worsen somewhat or worsen significantly?

Base: All respondents

What Americans Think:What Canadians Think:

65

25

40

21

3

2

5

9

TOTAL Improve

Improve significantly

Improve somewhat

Stay about the same

Worsen somewhat

Worsen significantly

TOTAL Worsen

Don't know

50

19

31

21

12

12

24

5

TOTAL Improve

Improve significantly

Improve somewhat

Stay about the same

Worsen somewhat

Worsen significantly

TOTAL Worsen

Don't know

Liberal Minded* 70%Conservative Minded* 61%

Total ImproveLiberal Minded* 73%Age 18-34 59%Income $100+ 56%Graduated col./univ. 55%

Total ImproveConservative Minded* 34%Age 50+ 26%Income <$50 28%High school or less 31%

Total Worsen

33

Canadians and Americans see McCain as the status quo: 'Bush’s third term'

Q. If John McCain, the likely Republican candidate in the upcoming presidential election, were to become the next President of the United States, do you think that America’s image abroad would improve significantly, improve somewhat, stay about the same, worsen somewhat or worsen significantly?

Base: All respondents

What Americans Think:What Canadians Think:

22

4

18

45

11

9

20

14

TOTAL Improve

Improve significantly

Improve somewhat

Stay about the same

Worsen somewhat

Worsen significantly

TOTAL Worsen

Don't know

25

5

20

45

14

11

25

5

TOTAL Improve

Improve significantly

Improve somewhat

Stay about the same

Worsen somewhat

Worsen significantly

TOTAL Worsen

Don't know

Conservative Minded* 26%Religious 28%

Total ImproveLiberal Minded* 24%Not religious 23%

Right track 38%Conservative Minded* 29%Men 30%Age 50+ 26%

Total ImproveWrong track 29%Liberal Minded* 39%Women 26%Age 18-34 31%

Total Worsen Total Worsen

34

Compared to past elections Canadians are more interested in this year's U.S. election – Americans are even more interested

Q. How would you describe your level of interest in the upcoming presidential election? Would you say you are more interested than you have been compared to past elections, about as interested as you have always been, or less interested that you have been compared to past elections?

Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

37%47%

15%

2%

Moreinterested

About asinterested

Lessinterested

Don't know

47%42%

10%1%

Moreinterested

About asinterested

Lessinterested

Don't know

Liberal Minded* 43%Graduated col./univ. 40%Income $100k+ 41%

More interested

Conservative Minded* 33%High school or less 29%Income <$50k 34%

More interested

Age 18-34 61%Age 35-49 38%Age 50+ 44%

High school or less 52%Some post-sec. 51%Graduated col./univ. 44%

35

Canadians see the US election as being about ‘the candidates’, while Americans perceive the election as being about ‘the issues’

What Americans Think:

Don't know3%

The candidates

31%

The issues66%

Income $50k-$99k 71%Graduated col./univ. 69%Men 69%

The Issues

Income $100k+ 59%High school or less 63%Women 63%

Women 64%Age 18-34 63%Ontario 63%

Men 52%Age 50+ 55%Quebec 50%

What Canadians Think:

The issues39%

The candidates

59%

Don't know2%

The Candidates

Q. Would you say your increased level of interest has more to do with the issues facing America or more to do with the candidates themselves?Base: Those who say they are more interested (Canada n=358; U.S. n=472)

36

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

Americans perceive the top priority for the new President to be the economy. Canadians place priority on a trio of issues – the economy, Iraq, and the environment

29%

27%

23%

9%

4%

3%

5%

Improving the American Economy

Withdrawing U.S. Troops from Iraq

Taking a Leadership role to improve the global

environment

Defending and Restoring Democracy around the

world

Renegotiating the free trade agreement

Keeping up the War on Terror

Don’t know

Q. What do you think the top priority should be for the next American President? [Read list, accept only one response]Base: All respondents

58%

18%

7%

4%

2%

8%

3%

Improving the American Economy

Withdrawing U.S. Troops from Iraq

Taking a Leadership role to improve the global

environment

Defending and Restoring Democracy around the

world

Renegotiating the free trade agreement

Keeping up the War on Terror

Don’t Know

37

Obama’s appeal is equally high among liberal and conservative-minded Canadians

What Canadians Think:

26%

21%

16%

9%

6%

5%

3%

Barack Obama

Stephen Harper

Hillary Clinton

Jack Layton

Gilles Duceppe

Stephane Dion

John McCain

Q. Which politician do you admire most? [Read list, accept only one response]Base: All respondents

Men 23%Women 28%Conservative Minded* 24%Liberal Minded* 28%

Barack ObamaMen 25%Women 18%Conservative Minded* 39%Liberal Minded* 9%

Men 11%Women 21%Conservative Minded* 13%Liberal Minded* 19%

Hillary ClintonMen 5%Women 5%Conservative Minded* 2%Liberal Minded* 8%

Stephen Harper Stephane Dion

38

A higher percentage of Americans believe that the Canadian system of government is better than their own

What Americans Think:

Don't know17%

United States66%

Canada17%

Liberal Minded* 25%West 24%Wrong track 21%

Canada

Conservative Minded* 13%South 12%Right track 8%

Ontario 15%Men 13%Conservative Minded* 14%

West 9%Women 11%Liberal Minded* 11%

What Canadians Think:

Don't know6%

United States12%

Canada82%

United States

Q. Which country would you say has the best system of government – Canada or the United States?Base: All respondents

39

But, Americans are more likely to think that elections matter than Canadians

What Americans Think:What Canadians Think:

56

27

29

19

24

43

1

TOTAL Agree

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

TOTAL Disagree

Don't know

Income <$50k 52%High school or less 50%Age 18-34 46%

Total Agree

Income $100k+ 26%Graduated col./univ. 35%Age 35-49 35%

High school or less 64%Some post-sec. 57%Graduated col./univ. 51%

Income <$50k 62%Income $50k-$99k 57%Income $100k+ 43%

Total Agree

41

22

19

20

37

57

2

TOTAL Agree

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

TOTAL Disagree

Don't know

Q. Please state whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement: No matter how I vote in the next election, it’s not going to make any difference in how our government is run.

Base: All respondents

Health Care, Gay Marriage, Religiosity Political Ideologies

41

About 4-in-10 Americans see the Canadian healthcare system as better than their own

What Americans Think:

Don't know13%

United States42%

Canada45%

Liberal Minded* 69%Wrong track 52%Border states 52%

Canada

Conservative Minded* 30%Right track 26%Non-border states 43%

Age 18-34 12%High school or less 11%Quebec 11%

Age 50+ 4%Graduated col./univ. 5%Ontario 5%

What Canadians Think:

Canada91%

United States7%

Don't know2%

United States

Q. Which country do you think has the best health care system – Canada or the United States?Base: All respondents

42

Americans recognize that more government involvement in the health care system is needed

Q. In your view, should health services to citizens be provided by government, the private sector, or a combination of the two (government and the private sector)?Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

42%

1%

56%

1%

Government Privatesector

Combinationof both

Don't know

11% 14%

73%

2%

Government Privatesector

Combinationof both

Don't know

Liberal Minded* 50%Age 50+ 45%Income <$50k 45%Wrong track 47%

GovernmentConservative Minded* 65%Age 18-49 59%Income $100k+ 63%Right track 62%

Conservative Minded* 5%Liberal Minded* 19%

GovernmentConservative Minded* 22%Liberal Minded* 3%Income $100k+ 22%Men 18%

Combination of both Private Sector

43

While almost 7-in-10 Canadians support gay marriage, 44% of Americans support this idea

What Americans Think:

No52%

Yes44%

Don't know4%

What Canadians Think:

Don't know4%

Yes68%

No28%

Q. Do you believe gay couples should have the right to marry?Base: All respondents

Not religious 79%Liberal Minded* 77%Income $100k+ 76%Quebec 75%

YesReligious 51%Conservative Minded* 37%Income <$50k 36%West 33%

Liberal Minded* 70%Not religious 66%Income $100k+ 54%Age 18-34 52%

YesReligious 70%Conservative Minded* 68%Men 60%High school or less 60%

No No

44

Americans are much more likely to say that they attend weekly religious services

What Canadians Think:

23%

8%

27%

42%

1%

Every week or almost every week

Once a month

A couple of times a year

Never or hardly ever

Refused to say

What Americans Think:

Q. How often do you attend religious services?Base: All respondents

46%

11%

16%

27%

1%

Every week or almost every week

Once a month

A couple of times a year

Never or hardly ever

Refused to say

Age 50+ 28%Conservative Minded* 27%Atlantic 29%Quebec 16%

Every/almost every week

Age 18-34 44%Liberal Minded* 44%Men 45%West 45%

Conservative Minded* 57%Age 50+ 52%Female 51%Midwest & South 49%

Every/almost every week

Liberal Minded* 41%Income $100k+ 35%Men 30%West 36%

Never or hardly ever Never or hardly ever

45

Canada is clearly much more liberal, while the US is much more conservative

Q. Regardless of how you actually vote, would you describe your political views as very conservative, conservative, liberal or very liberal?Base: All respondents

What Canadians Think: What Americans Think:

39 12 83 38

Very Conservative ConservativeLiberal Very LiberalRefused to say

41%Conservative

51%Liberal

30 7 610 47

Very Conservative ConservativeLiberal Very LiberalRefused to say

57%Conservative

37%Liberal

ConservativeConservative Liberal Liberal

South 62%High school or less 61%Male 60%Age 50+ 60%

West 42%Income $100k+ 42%Women 41%Age 18-34 41%

West 49%Men 46%Age 50+ 45%

Atlantic 60%Women 55%Age 18-34 53%

A Report To

The Globe and Mail and CTV

A Tale of Two Nations

State of Canadian/American Public Opinion

June 2008