Canadians And Americans Reflect On Cross-Border Business In A Post 9/11 World
Canadians and Americans also have different opinions about what would have the best chance of improving business relations between Canada and the United States. Three in ten (27%) Canadians say "a new president in the United States," compared to only 19% of Americans; two in ten (22%) Canadians say "a new prime minister in Canada," compared to a mere 7% of Americans; another two in ten (19%) Canadians say "a common currency that can be used in both Canada and the United States, like the euro in European countries," compared to 17% of Americans. One in seven (15%) Canadians say "better use of technology at the border for security purposes" would have the best chance of improving business relations between Canada and the United States, compared to nearly twice as many (28%) Americans, and 13% of Canadians say "a common security zone around both countries," compared to 21% of Americans. In Canada, 4% say they "don't know" compared to 9% of Americans.
Canadians are split on the idea of a government-issued national identification card, while Americans are more inclined to disagree with a U.S. government-issues national identification card. In Canada, 47% agree (22% "strongly agree," 25% "somewhat agree") with the statement, "due to increased concerns about terrorism, everyone living in Canada should have a government-issue national identification card that they must carry on them at all times and present when asked to police or members of other Canadian security forces," while 52% disagree (37% "strongly disagree," 15% "somewhat disagree") with the statement. In the United States, 59% disagree (45% "strongly disagree," 14% "somewhat disagree") with a national identification card, while 40% agree (19% "strongly agree," 21% "somewhat agree"). In both Canada and the United States 1% of respondents "don't know" whether they agree or disagree with the statement.
These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid poll conducted on behalf of EDS Canada Inc. between October 7th and October 9th, 2003. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,039 Canadians and 1001 Americans. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian and American population been polled. The margin of error is larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 2001 Census data and the American population according to the 2000 Census data.
Six in ten (63%) Canadians think the increased importance of security issues hinders (17% "greatly hinders," 46% "somewhat hinders") Canada-U.S. business relations, compared to only 45% of Americans (7% "greatly hinders," 38% "somewhat hinders"). One in three (33%) Canadians think it benefits (11% "greatly benefits," 23% "somewhat benefits") Canada-U.S. business relations, compared to more than four in ten (46%) Americans (15% "greatly benefits," 32% "somewhat benefits"). In Canada 4% say they "don't know" compared to 8% of Americans.
- In Canada those most likely to say the increased importance of security issues hinders Canada-U.S. business relations are residents of British Columbia (71%) and Quebec (68%), followed by residents of Atlantic Canada (63%), Ontario (60%), Alberta (58%), and finally Saskatchewan/Manitoba (52%).
- In the United States, those most likely to say the increased importance of security issues hinders Canada-U.S. business relations are residents of the Northeast (53%), followed by residents of the Midwest (47%), the West (47%), and the South (39%).
- Canadian men (69%) are more likely than Canadian women (57%) to believe it hinders Canada-U.S. business relations.
- American men (50%) are more likely than American women (42%) to believe it hinders Canada-U.S. business relations.
- Canadians with a university degree (72%) are more likely than those without (59%) to believe it hinders Canada-U.S. business relations.
- Americans with some college education or a college degree (50%) are more likely than those without (36%) to believe it hinders Canada-U.S. business relations.
- Canadians with an annual household income of $30,000 or more (68%) are more likely than those with less (51%) to believe it hinders Canada-U.S. business relations.
- In the United States, there are no statistically significant differences among household income groups for this question.
- In Canada, residents of British Columbia (34%) and Quebec (34%) are most likely to say "a new president in the United States" would have the best chance of improving business relations between Canada and the United States, while residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (36%), Alberta (34%), Atlantic Canada (25%), and Ontario (23%) are more likely to say "a new prime minister in Canada."
- In the United States, residents of the Northeast (25%) are most likely to say "a new president in the United States" would have the best chance of improving business relations between Canada and the United States, and residents of the Midwest (35%) are most likely to say "better use of technology at the border for security purposes." There are no statistically significant differences among residents of the South or the West.
- Canadians 55 and older (27%) are more likely than those between the ages of 18 and 34 (16%) or 35 and 54 (22%) to say "a new prime minister in Canada" would have the best chance of improving business relations between Canada and the United States.
- Americans 55 and older (33%) are most likely to say better use of technology at the border for security purposes;" Americans 35-54 years of age (24%) are most likely to say a common security zone around both countries;" and Americans 18-34 years of age (24%) are most likely to say "a common currency that can be used in both Canada and the United States, like the euro in European countries."
- In the Canada, there are no statistically significant differences between men and women for this question.
- American men (11%) are more likely than American women (4%) to say a new prime minister in Canada" would have the best chance of improving business relations between Canada and the United States.
- Canadians with a high school diploma or less (25%) are more likely than others (17%) to say a common currency that can be used in both Canada and the United States, like the euro in European countries" would have the best chance of improving business relations between Canada and the United States.
- In the United States, there are no statistically significant differences among levels of education for this question.
- In Canada, residents of Atlantic Canada (57%) and Quebec (55%) are more likely to agree, whereas residents of Alberta (67%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (60%), British Columbia (59%), and Ontario (52%) are more likely to disagree with the statement.
- In the United States, residents of the West (68%) are most likely to disagree with the statement, followed by residents of the Northeast (62%), the South (55%), and the Midwest (54%).
- Canadians 55 years of age and older (54%) are most likely to agree, Canadians 18-34 years of age (57%) and 35-54 years of age (53%) are most likely to disagree.
- Americans 35-54 years of age (64%) are most likely to disagree with the statement, followed by Americans 18-34 years of age (55%) and Americans 55 years of age and older (54%).
- Canadians with a university degree (63%) are more likely than those without (47%) to disagree with the statement.
- Americans with some college education or a college degree (65%) are more likely than those with a high school degree or less (45%) to disagree with the statement.
- Canadians with an annual household income of $60,000 or greater (56%) are more likely than those with an annual household income of $30,000-$60,000 (52%) or less than $30,000 (47%) to disagree with the statement.
- Americans with an annual household income of $25,000-$50,000 (65%) are most likely to disagree with the statement, followed by those with an annual household income of $50,000 or more (60%), and those with an annual household income of less than $25,000 (52%).
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For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Ipsos-Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900
