TORONTO (November 2, 2009) -- A survey for the Historica-Dominion Institute on the first anniversary of the election of Barack Obama finds that the new president has not fundamentally changed how Canadians see the United States.
While President Obama is dramatically more popular today among Canadians than George W. Bush, Canadians feel only slightly more favourably toward the United States than they did in a similar poll four years ago, according to a recent survey conducted by the Innovative Research Group.
Some observers assumed that Obama’s election on November 4, 2008 would erode an enduring distrust of the United States in Canada, but it appears to have done little to change deep-seated attitudes.
“What’s striking about these findings is how Canadians have detached their personal view of Barack Obama, whom they quite like and respect, from the United States, which they still view with skepticism, even distrust,” said Andrew Cohen, President of The Historica Dominion Institute.
In November 2005, in the second term of the contentious presidency George W. Bush, 68 per cent of Canadians had a favourable view (22% very favourable; 46% somewhat favourable) of Americans as individuals. Four years later, a slightly higher proportion of Canadians felt the same way (21% very favourable: 50% somewhat favourable).
When asked if they “feel at home” whenever they visit the United States, 48 per cent of Canadians agreed (16% strongly agree; 32% somewhat agree). Four years ago, 44 per cent agreed (16% strongly agree; 28% somewhat agree).
Regardless of whether Bush or Obama is in the White House, Canadians do not think our values are becoming more or less like those of the United State. In fact, most Canadians (52 per cent) think “American and Canadian values” are staying about the same (in contrast to 45 per cent under Bush four years ago).
In 2009, Canadians are split on whether the United States is “a force for good in the world”. While 44 per cent agree (11% strongly agree; 32% somewhat agree), 46 per cent disagree (15% strongly disagree; 31% somewhat disagree). In Quebec, just under one-third think the U.S. is a force for good.
“There really does appear to be a hardy strain of anti-Americanism in Canada,” said Cohen. “Almost half of us don’t feel at home there, which is surprising given all that we have in common as two peoples. Almost half of us don’t believe America is a force for good in the world, even with Obama as President.”
Still, Canadians overwhelmingly like Obama. Eighty-six per cent have a favourable view (48% very favourable; 40% somewhat favorable) of him, compared to only 21 per cent for Bush in 2005. However, only 42 per cent agreed that President Obama should have won the Nobel Peace Prize announced in October, while 46 per cent of Canadians disagreed.?
The Historica-Dominion Institute is a national charitable organization launched on September 1, 2009. It was created out of two organizations: The Historica Foundation of Canada and The Dominion Institute. It is the country’s leading advocate of memory, identity and democracy, dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of Canada’s history and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Some of its signature programs are Encounters with Canada, The Memory Project, Passages to Canada and The Canadian Encyclopedia.
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Media Inquiries:
Andrew Cohen
President
613.875.2576
416.506.1867
acohen@historica-dominion.ca