Canadians aged 15 to 24 were found to be as connected to the world as the national average, and somewhat more idealistic. Foreign-born Canadians, meanwhile, maintain stronger connections to the outside world, but hold views on Canada's role in the world that are similar with the rest of the population.
Some other findings from the poll include:
- Canadians see the environment (29 per cent) and war (28 per cent) as the most pressing problems facing today's world.
- Almost seven in 10 Canadians have travelled outside Canada and the U.S. as a tourist, while 44 per cent have done so to visit friends and family.
- When asked to name the country that stands out as a negative force in the world, the U.S. was cited most often (52 per cent). Iran was next at 21 per cent.
- Fifteen per cent of Canadians would give up their ballot in the next Canadian federal election to vote in the U.S.
- When it comes to nuclear weapons, 88 per cent of Canadians believe they make the world a more dangerous place, while six per cent believe they make it safer.
Here is a breakdown of several questions asked within the poll:
Canada's place in the world
- How much impact or influence do you believe Canada has today in world affairs generally (by age group)?
- In your opinion, what is the most positive contribution that Canada, as a country, makes to the world?
- In what areas, if any, do you think Canada has missed an important opportunity to make a positive contribution to the world?
- There are different actors in Canadian society that are currently involved in the world abroad. Do you have a great deal, some, or little confidence in the capabilities of the following to make a positive difference in the world?
Canada and the U.S.
- Would you like to see the next U.S. president be a Republican or a Democrat, or does it not matter either way to you?
- Have you travelled to the U.S. in the past five years?
Global issues
- What do you think is the most important issue or problem facing the world today?
- Would you say you are basically optimistic or basically pessimistic about the direction you think the world is heading over the next 10 years?
- Do you think nuclear weapons make the world a safer place or a more dangerous place?
- Would you support or oppose eliminating all nuclear weapons in the world through an enforceable agreement?
Travel in the world
- Have you ever travelled outside Canada and the U.S. for any of the following reasons?
- Would you personally be very, somewhat, not very or not all interested in doing each of the following in a foreign country for at least three months, if given an opportunity to do so? | By age group
Awareness of the world
Engagement with the world
- In the past two years, have you or someone in your household given financial support to organizations or individuals outside Canada?
- There are an estimated three million Canadians currently living abroad in other countries. Do you believe having this number of citizens living in other countries is generally a good thing or a bad thing for Canada?
| How much impact or influence do you believe Canada has today in world affairs generally? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-24 years old (%) | 25-39 years old (%) | 40-59 years old (%) | 60+ years old(%) | |
| A lot of influence | 25 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Some influence | 57 | 56 | 58 | 56 |
| Little influence | 15 | 28 | 25 | 25 |
| No influence at all | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Don’t know/no answer | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| In your opinion, what is the most positive contribution that Canada, as a country, makes to the world? | |
|---|---|
| % | |
| Peacekeeping | 26 |
| Foreign aid | 17 |
| Support for human rights | 5 |
| Multiculturalism/accepts | 5 |
| World example/role model | 4 |
| Voice of moderation | 3 |
| Military overseas/fighting war on terrorism | 3 |
| Immigration/refugees | 2 |
| Environment | 2 |
| Natural resources | 2 |
| UN involvement | 1 |
| Great/friendly people | 1 |
| Diplomacy/mediation | 1 |
| Does not support war/known for peaceful attitude | 1 |
| Technology | 1 |
| Trade/free trade | 1 |
| Health care system | 1 |
| Alliance with the U.S. | 1 |
| Good place to live | 1 |
| Other | 5 |
| Nothing | 3 |
| Don't know/No answer | 14 |
| In what areas, if any, do you think Canada has missed an important opportunity to make a positive contribution to the world? | |
|---|---|
| % | |
| Environmental support | 23 |
| Military issues/Middle East | 14 |
| Foreign aid/Third World/the poor | 7 |
| Weak international influence | 4 |
| Relationship with the U.S./George Bush | 4 |
| Economy | 2 |
| Technology | 1 |
| Stand on human rights | 1 |
| Disaster assistance/tsunami/Katrina | 1 |
| Other | 5 |
| None/nothing | 4 |
| Don't know/No answer | 45 |
| There are different actors in Canadian society that are currently involved in the world abroad. Do you have a great deal, some, or little confidence in the capabilities of the following to make a positive difference in the world? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Canadian government (%) | Individual Canadians (%) | Canadian NGOs (%) | Canadian businesses (%) | |
| A great deal of confidence | 20 | 32 | 47 | 20 |
| Some confidence | 55 | 51 | 44 | 54 |
| Little confidence | 22 | 15 | 8 | 22 |
| No confidence at all | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Depends | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don't know/No answer | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Would you like to see the next U.S. president be a Republican or a Democrat, or does it not matter either way to you? | |
|---|---|
| Democrat | 34% |
| Republican | 5% |
| Doesn't matter either way | 56% |
| Other | 1% |
| Don't know/no answer | 4% |
| Have you travelled to the U.S. in the past five years for any of the following reasons: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Yes (%) | No (%) | |
| As a tourist or visitor | 64 | 36 |
| For education or study | 7 | 93 |
| To do volunteer work through an organization | 2 | 98 |
| For business or as part of a job | 19 | 81 |
| To visit friends and family | 34 | 66 |
| For shopping | 36 | 64 |
| What do you think is the most important issue or problem facing the world today? | |
|---|---|
| Environment/pollution | 29 |
| War/lack of peace | 28 |
| Starvation/world hunger | 13 |
| Economy/recession | 5 |
| Terrorism | 3 |
| Crime/law and order | 3 |
| Racism/ethnic intolerance | 2 |
| Social/moral decline | 2 |
| Oil/fossil fuels/energy supply | 2 |
| Health care/professionals/hospital shortage | 2 |
| Unequal distribution of wealth | 2 |
| Politics/politicians | 1 |
| Overpopulation | 1 |
| Disease/AIDS | 1 |
| United States/George W. Bush | 1 |
| Other | 2 |
| Don't know/No answer | 3 |
| Would you say you are basically optimistic or basically pessimistic about the direction you think the world is heading over the next 10 years? | |
|---|---|
| Basically optimistic | 46 |
| Basically pessimistic | 46 |
| Both/neither pessimistic/optimistic | 5 |
| DK/NA | 3 |
| Do you think nuclear weapons make the world a safer place or a more dangerous place? | |
|---|---|
| More dangerous place | 88% |
| Safer place | 6% |
| Both safer and more dangerous/Mixed | 3% |
| Don't know/No answer | 3% |
| Would you support or oppose eliminating all nuclear weapons in the world through an enforceable agreement? | |
|---|---|
| Strongly support | 73% |
| Moderately support | 15% |
| Moderately oppose | 4% |
| Strongly oppose | 5% |
| Don’t know/No answer | 3% |
| Have you ever travelled outside Canada and the U.S. for any of the following reasons? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Yes (%) | No (%) | |
| As a tourist or visitor | 69 | 31 |
| For education or study | 14 | 86 |
| To do volunteer work through an organization | 8 | 92 |
| For business or as part of a job (includes military service) | 18 | 82 |
| To visit friends and family | 44 | 56 |
| To visit your place of birth or country of ancestry | 27 | 72 |
| Would you personally be very, somewhat, not very or not all interested in doing each of the following in a foreign country for at least three months, if given an opportunity to do so? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study at a college, university or language school abroad | Work for a Canadian or foreign company abroad | Do volunteer work for a non-governmental organization abroad | Live in a different country to learn about its culture, language and people | |
| Very interested | 31 | 26 | 30 | 43 |
| Somewhat interested | 22 | 29 | 32 | 28 |
| Not very interested | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 |
| Not at all interested | 32 | 29 | 24 | 18 |
| Have already done so | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Depends | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Don't know/No answer | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Would you personally be very, somewhat, not very or not all interested in living in a foreign country for at least three months to learn about its culture, language and people, if given an opportunity to do so? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 15-24 (%) | Age 25-39 (%) | Age 40-59 (%) | Age 60+ (%) | |
| Very interested | 60 | 46 | 42 | 30 |
| Somewhat interested | 25 | 30 | 30 | 23 |
| Not very interested | 10 | 10 | 8 | 13 |
| Not at all interested | 5 | 13 | 18 | 32 |
| Have already done so | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Depends | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Don't know/No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Do you follow events very, somewhat, not very, or not at all closely that take place: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In your local community | In your province | At the national level | In the world outside Canada | |
| Very closely | 29 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
| Somewhat closely | 46 | 57 | 52 | 53 |
| Not very closely | 18 | 13 | 15 | 17 |
| Not at all closely | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Don't know/no answer | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| In the past two years, have you or someone in your household given financial support to: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes (%) | No (%) | Don't know/No answer (%) | |
| Any causes or organizations that address problems or issues in other countries | 39 | 60 | 2 |
| To family members or others you know living in another country | 18 | 81 | 1 |
| There are an estimated 3 million Canadians currently living abroad in other countries. Do you believe having this number of citizens living in other countries is generally a good thing or a bad thing for Canada? | |
|---|---|
| % | |
| Generally a good thing | 67 |
| Generally a bad thing | 16 |
| Neither good/bad | 7 |
| Depends | 4 |
| Don't know/No answer | 6 |
The poll was conducted by Environics Research for Canada's World, on behalf of The Simons Foundation, the CBC, the Environics Institute, Globe and Mail and Le Devoir. It is based on a national sample of 2,001 people and has a margin of error of 2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
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