New poll suggests Canadians take more pride in their country than Americans do
A new study suggests Canadians take more pride in their country than their American neighbours do.
A recent Angus Reid poll looked into how Canadians and Americans view themselves and each other.
The numbers show that 78 per cent of Canadians believe they live in a caring country, compared to just 36 per cent of people in the United States.
“Canadians have grown to be much more positive about Canada in the last year than Americans have on America,” says Jon Roe, a research associate with the Angus Reid Institute Research.
While no country is perfect, many believe Canada is a pretty good place to call home.
“We’re very nice people,” says Halifax resident Heather Bonin. “We’re pleasant. We get along with most people and it’s a beautiful country we live in.”
When it comes to safety, the poll shows that 89 per cent of Canadians feel the country is safe, while only 43 per cent of Americans feel the United States is a safe nation.
Conversely, 64 per cent of Americans view Canada as a safe place and 56 per cent say Canada is a caring country.
“There is quite a bit of disparity in how positive Canadians are of Canada versus how negative Americans are of America,” says Roe.
Roe says American pessimism is a new trend.
“I think with the last two presidential elections, the country has been very divisive and I think people are more negative about the U.S. in recent years,” he says.
The researcher says the numbers suggest Canadians are recovering faster from the strains of the pandemic.
“A year ago when we asked a lot of these similar questions, Canadians were a bit more negative about their country than they are now, so I think in some ways, it’s kind of surprising that Canadians' appreciation of their own country has improved,” Roe says.
“I don’t disagree. Canada is one of the greatest spots in the world to live,” says dual citizen, Mickey Fox.
Fox spends a lot of time on both sides of the 49th parallel. He says he hopes America is just experiencing a bump in the road and maybe they can rebound by following Canada’s lead.
“I think if you go back 30 years, the country was strong and it kind of ebbs and flows and we have got to get back to believing in one another down here,” Fox says.
“I think Canadians believe in themselves and Americans at one time really believed, it was a proud country and it still is, but there are some fences to mend.”
As for who feels best about the nation, 83 per cent of people from Quebec say they are proud to live in Canada. Atlantic Canadians were second, at 78 per cent.
Residents of Saskatchewan were last in their views of Canada, with only 60 per cent saying they are proud of their country.
The Angus Reid Poll surveyed 1,600 Canadians and 1,000 Americans. It’s considered accurate by plus or minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.