More Interesting Poll Results

Michael Adams (Environics) reports that when Canadians are asked if we should become more like the U.S., 10% said yes, but almost four times as many said no. Altogether 89% said less like the Americans or wanted us to stay as we are. So much for d'Aquino, Wendy Dobson, Allan Gotlieb, Brian Mulroney et al. Recent CRIC polls have been revealing. Asked if Canadians and Americans have basically the same values, 67% of Canadians disagree, only 33% agree. So much for the nonsense of the likes of Jack Granatstein and William Dymond. When Canadians are asked about the quality of life here, 73% say it's better than in the U.S., while only 9% say it's worse. 49% say Canada provides a high standard of living compared to the U.S., while only 24% say it's worse. 66% say Canada provides more equal opportunities than the U.S. and only 11% say the opportunities are worse here. So much for the wisdom of Lord Crossover. Asked whether we should harmonize Canadian policies with U.S. policies, 87% said no re health care, 64% said no re banks and financial institutions, 63% said no re immigration and refugees, and 58% said no re taxation. On average fewer than one in four supported such harmonization. No wonder Stephen Harper is going nowhere. Finally, two in every three Canadians say that the U.S. benefits more from their trade with Canada than we do as a result of our trade with the U.S.. Go figure. Given what a poor job the media has done informing Canadians about the economic impact of the FTA and NAFTA, how Canadians could come to such a conclusion is beyond me. True, THE VANISHING COUNTRY has been a big bestseller, but REALLY....... Of course we have to keep all of this in mind with the certainty that Paul Martin is going to integrate us even more with the U.S., will allow new sections of the Canadian economy to be sold off to foreign control, and will take a huge step towards forever ending our foreign and defence policy independence when he agrees to climb on board George W. Bush's NMD weaponizing of space. Won't it be interesting to watch how John Godfrey and a few other Liberals react to that insanity. Don't for a moment bet on any timid revolt or exodus. It's not going to happen One last point. Re all Paul Martin's stuff about the "democratic deficit" and reforming the way democracy works, isn't this just more hypocricy from someone who recently voted against proportional representation? Mel Hurtig (email Mel at mhurtig@telusplanet.net)