VANCOUVER – Americans and Canadians are inextricably linked, both by the largest international border, and by a culture that often times overlaps, even while maintaining distinction.
And while both countries face challenges within their own political and social discourse, Canadians appear to have an advantage in terms of the harmony they perceive at home, even if it isn’t unanimous.
A new cross-border study by the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians more unified than Americans in viewing their country as a caring and safe place to call home, and a positive contributor to the globe.
Overall, four-in-five Canadians (78%) say their country is a caring society, just one-in-three Americans say the same (36%).
Nine-in-ten north of the 49th parallel say they live in a safe country (89%), while half as many – two-in-five (43%) – say this to the south. Further, 62% in Canada say their country contributes positively in world affairs, while 39% of Americans say this.
In some cases, Canada’s advantage is significant, but perhaps less than impressive in a vacuum. For example, Canadians are far more likely to say that their system of government is good than Americans, but still just 51% feel this way (34% in the U.S.).
What is also notable in these data is the favourable view that Americans have of Canada compared to their own country.
On every item canvassed, Americans are more likely to feel favourably about Canada more than their own country. This is most pronounced in two areas. Two-thirds of Americans feel Canada is a safe country (64%), whereas 43% say this of their own. Additionally, more than half (56%) say that Canada is a caring country, 20 points more than say this of the U.S. (36%).
After struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges it created within communities, Canadian views of their own country may be improving.
Compared to January 2022, the percentage of Canadians saying their country is caring (+15), prosperous (+7) and safe (+4) have all improved.
Trump voters are much more likely to say they are proud of their country (72%) than Biden voters (52%).
In Canada, past Conservative voters are least likely to say this (64%) among supporters of the major federal parties (Liberals 92%, NDP 77%, Bloc Québécois 78%). Four-in-five (83%) in Quebec say they are proud of the country they live in, the highest number in the country; three-in-five (60%) in Saskatchewan also say this, the lowest.
Canadians are more likely (67%) than Americans (51%) to feel that the United States is a prosperous country.
Canadians who identify as visible minority are three times as likely (25%) to say that they had a poor border crossing experience with U.S. Customs.
