Positive Perceptions on China Plummet to New Low in Canada

Two-in-five Canadians hold favourable views on the United States, up 10 points since July 2020.

Vancouver, BC [January 8, 2021] – Just under one-in-five Canadians currently have a favourable view of the People’s Republic of China, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, only 19% of Canadians hold a positive opinion of China, down two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in July 2020. Seven-in-ten Canadians (70%, +3) hold negative views on this particular country.

One-in-four Atlantic Canadians (25%) have a favourable opinion of China. The rating is lower in Quebec (23%), British Columbia (20%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (19%), Ontario (16%) and Alberta (13%).

“Canadians aged 55 and over are the least likely to currently have a positive view of China (16%)”, says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The numbers are slightly higher among Canadians aged 35-to-54 (19%) and Canadians aged 18-to-34 (25%).”

At least three-in-five Canadians currently have favourable views on seven different nations: the United Kingdom (78%, +5), Italy (75%, +6), Germany (72%, +5), Japan (71%, +1), France (71%, +1), South Korea (60%, -1) and Mexico (51%, -3).

Just over two-in-five Canadians hold a positive opinion of India (44%, +7) and the United States (42%, +10).

Canadians who voted for the Liberal Party in the 2019 federal election are more likely to have a favourable view of India (54%) than those who supported the New Democratic Party (NDP) (44%) or the Conservative Party (35%).

In Canada, positive views on the United States are highest among men (47%), Albertans (54%) and those who voted for the Conservatives in the last federal ballot (61%).

Significantly fewer women (36%), Quebecers (37%) and British Columbians (36%) hold a favourable opinion on the United States, along with Canadians who voted for the Liberals (38%) or the New Democrats in 2019 (24%) 

Fewer than a third of Canadians have a positive view of five other countries: Venezuela (31%, -2), Russia (26%, =), Saudi Arabia (23%, +3), Iran (15%, -2) and North Korea (12%, -1).

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from December 12 to December 14, 2020, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error – which measures sample variability – is +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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