Only one-in-five Canadians (21%) have a favourable opinion of China, down six points since January.
Vancouver, BC [July 28, 2020] – The perceptions of Canadians on the United States have become more negative during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample, 32% of Canadians have a positive opinion of the United States, down 15 points since a similar Research Co. survey conducted In December 2019.
More than three-in-five Canadians (62%, +14) currently have a negative opinion of the United States—including 75% of women, 64% of Canadians aged 55 and over and 71% of British Columbians.
“When we compare the results of this survey with what Research Co. found late last year, the most drastic fluctuation is seen with the United States,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “At the end of 2019, almost half of Canadians held positive views about the neighbouring nation, but now the proportion has fallen to only one third—slightly higher than Russia and on par with Venezuela.”
At least two thirds of Canadians hold favourable views on five countries that are part of the Group of Seven (G7): the United Kingdom (73%, -10), Japan (70%, -2), Italy (69%, -3), France (69%, -1) and Germany (67%, -6).
Majorities of respondents also have a positive opinion of South Korea (61%, +9) and Mexico (54%, +8). The rating is lower for India (37%, +1) and Venezuela (33%, +3).
Only 26% of Canadians (unchanged) have a positive view of Russia, while 57% hold negative views. Russia has a higher unfavourability rating from Canadians aged 55 and over (63%) and men (61%).
Perceptions of China have also dropped, from 27% in December 2019 to 21% this month. In a separate survey conducted in May 2020, Research Co. found that three-in-four Canadians opposed the participation of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei in Canada’s 5G spectrum.
Across Canada, 67% of respondents have a negative view of China, including 75% of Canadians aged 55 and over, 75% of Atlantic Canadians and 74% of those who voted for the Conservative Party or the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the last federal election.
The lowest ranked nations are Saudi Arabia (20%, +3), Iran (16%, +2) and North Korea (13%, +2).
Methodology:
Results are based on an online survey conducted from July 6 to July 8, 2020, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Photo Credit: AlWhiteash429
Find our data tables here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca