Three-Quarters (75%) Of Canadians Agree That President Bush Doesn't Have A Good Understanding of Canada And Its People

Toronto, ONTARIO - Given the increasingly sensitive relationship between Canada and the United States over various incidents during the past weeks, an new Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll released today indicates that three-quarters (75%) of Canadians do not believe that American President George W. Bush has a good understanding of Canada or of the Canadian people. This belief is strongly held by 46% of Canadians. In comparison, one-quarter (24%) say that President Bush has a good understanding of Canadian and it's people, however only four percent strongly agree with this view.

When asked, almost half (45%) of Canadians believe that Canada's current relationship with President Bush is worse than the country has had with other American Presidents. This compares to just one-in-ten (9%) who feel that Canada has a better relationship than with past presidents. Forty-three percent describe the relationship as about the same.

While a majority (58%) of Canadians say they are not angry at how President Bush has treated Canada since the start of the `War on Terrorism' and September 11th a significant four-in-ten (40%) disagree.

Seven-in-ten (70%) disagree that at the end of the day, the U.S. government really cares about how its actions impact on Canada. This compares to just three-in-ten (29%) who agree - with only 5% agreeing strongly.

Half (50%) believe that if the American government makes a decision that is harmful to Canada, there is really nothing we can do to make them change it. However, almost the same proportion (49%) disagree with this view.

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll conducted between April 23rd and April 25th, 2002. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,000 adult Canadians. 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 population been polled. The margin of error will be 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 1996 Census data.

Three-Quarters (75%) Of Canadians Do Not Think President Bush Understands Canada

With the recent reaction to the manner in which President Bush dealt with last week's "friendly fire" incident in Afghanistan, as well as other episodes since becoming President, three-quarters (75%) of Canadians do not believe that American President George W. Bush has a good understanding of Canada or of the Canadian people. This belief is strongly held by 46% of Canadians. In comparison, one-quarter (24%) say that President Bush has a good understanding of Canadian and it's people, however only four percent strongly agree with this view.

• Regionally, residents in British Columbia (84%) are more likely to feel that President Bush does not understand Canada than those in other regions. This is followed by Ontario (79%), Atlantic Canada (77%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (72%) and Alberta (70%), while Quebecers (68%) are least likely to express this view.
• Men (79% versus 72% of women) are more likely to agree with this view.
• Canadians in the highest (80%) household income group are more likely than those in the middle (76%) or lowest (71%) household income groups to feel this way.
• Canadian with a university degree (84%) are more likely than those with other post-secondary education (76%), high school (70%) or less than high school education (61%) to believe this to be the case.

Almost Half (45%) Say that Canada Has a Worse Relationship with Bush than with Past U.S. Presidents

In recent years, Canada has enjoyed close relations with the occupants of the White House. However, over four in ten (45%) Canadians believe that Canada's current relationship with President Bush is worse than the country has had with other American Presidents. This compares to just one-in-ten (9%) who feel that Canada has a better relationship than with past presidents. Forty-three percent describe the relationship as about the same.

• British Columbians (56%) are the most likely to say that Canada's relationship with President Bush is worse than that with past presidents. This is followed by Ontario (45%), Quebec (44%), Atlantic Canada (44%) and Alberta (42%). Residents in Saskatchewan/Manitoba (37%) are least likely to say things have worsened.
• Older (49%) Canadians are more likely than younger (44%) or middle aged (43%) Canadians to think things are worse between President Bush and Canada than with past presidents.
• Those in the highest (50%) and lowest (47%) household income groups are more likely to say things are worse than previously compared to those in the middle household income group (40%).

While a Majority (58%) Say They Are Not Angry at How President Bush Has Treated Canada Since September 11th, Four-in-Ten (40%) Are

President Bush 's delayed apology over the deaths of Canadian soldiers by American "friendly fire" in Afghanistan last week, in addition to leaving out Canada as one of the allies in the War on Terrorism in his speech to Congress last fall has created a view that the American President does not value Canada's friendship and partnership. However, when asked a majority (58%) of Canadians say they are not angry at how President Bush has treated Canada since the start of the `War on Terrorism' and September 11th , but four-in-ten (40%) are angry with the president.

• The Canadians who appear to be the angriest with President Bush are more likely from British Columbia (47%), Quebec (47%) and Atlantic Canada (43%) compared to those in Ontario (37%), Alberta (31%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (30%).
• Canadians from the lowest (46%) and middle (42%) household income group are more likely to express anger towards President Bush than those from the highest (35%) household income group.
• Canadians with less than a high school education (50%) and a university degree (44%) are more likely than those with a high school diploma (39%) or post-secondary education (36%) to say they are angry with the president.

Seven-in-Ten (70%) Say U.S. Doesn't Care How Its Actions Impact Canada

Seven-in-ten (70%) disagree that at the end of the day, the U.S. government really cares about how its actions impact on Canada. This compares to just three-in-ten (29%) who agree - with only 5% agreeing strongly.

• Highest agreement with this view is found among Quebecers (35%), followed by those in Ontario (29%), Atlantic Canada (28%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (26%) and Alberta (26%). Not surprisingly, the province most effected by the recent soft-wood lumber dispute, British Columbia (20%), is least likely to agree with this view.
• Canadians from the middle household income group (33%) are more likely than those in the lowest (29%) and highest (24%) household income group to express agreement with this proposition.

Half (50%) Believe There is Nothing Canada Can Do to Change American Government Decisions Harmful to Canada

Half (50%) of Canadians believe that if the American government makes a decision that is harmful to Canada, there is really nothing we can do to make them change it. However, almost the same proportion (49%) disagree with this view.

• This view is more prevalent among residents of Alberta (56%) and Quebec (56%) than other regions of the country. It is lower among residents of British Columbia (52%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (51%), Atlantic Canada (47%), and Ontario (44%).
• Younger (53%) and middle aged (52%) Canadians are more likely than older (43%) Canadians to express agreement with this view.
• Canadians with household incomes of $30,000 to just under $60,0000 (53%) and $60,000 or more (51%), are more likely to agree with this view than those with household incomes of less than $30,000 (47%).

To view the complete release and tables, please download the attached PDF files.

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For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Public Affairs
Ipsos-Reid
(416) 324-2900