Historica-Dominion/Innovative Research Canadian Survey on the Obama Presidency and the United States

Do you have a very favourable, somewhat favourable, somewhat unfavourable or very unfavourable impression of the current President of the United States, Barack Obama?

• Very favourable 46%
• Somewhat favourable 40%
• Somewhat unfavourable 5%
• Very unfavourable 2%

Note: Canadians views of the current President have improved markedly: 46% have a very favourable impression of President Obama compared with only 5% for President Bush in 2005.

Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement: Barack Obama deserved to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

• Strongly agree 15%
• Somewhat agree 27%
• Somewhat disagree 27%
• Strongly disagree 19%

Note: While Canadians like President Obama, they are unsure if the President deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, with 42% agreeing he did and 47% disagreeing. However, a majority of Quebeckers agreed he deserved the prize (57%).

Do you have a very favourable, somewhat favourable, somewhat unfavourable or very unfavourable impression of Americans as individual people?

• Very favourable 21%
• Somewhat favourable 50%
• Somewhat unfavourable 14%
• Very unfavourable 4%

Note: Compared to 2005, Canadians have only a marginally improved view of Americans as individual people (71% favourable in 2009 vs. 68% in November 2005).

Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement: I feel at home whenever I visit the United States.

• Strongly agree 16%
• Somewhat agree 32%
• Somewhat disagree 25%
• Strongly disagree 15%

Note: Just under half of Canadians say they feel at home whenever they visit the US (48% vs. 44% in 2005), a very modest increase from 2005. Quebeckers do not share that sentiment (only 33% say they feel at home).

Do you think that American and Canadian values are becoming more similar, more different or are they staying the same?

• More similar 27%
• Staying the same 52%
• More different 17%

Note: Canadians are also no more likely to think that American and Canadians values are becoming more similar (27% in 2005 and 2009). However, they are less likely to say they are diverging (17% this year vs. 24% in 2005).

Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement: The US is a force for good in the world.

• Strongly agree 11%
• Somewhat agree 33%
• Somewhat disagree 31%
• Strongly disagree 15%

Note: Canadians are split on this question with 45% agreeing that the US is a force for good in the world and 46% disagreeing. Quebeckers are most sceptical, with only 32% agreeing.

If you had a serious illness do you think you would receive better medical treatment in the United States or Canada?

• Canada 77%
• United States 14%

Survey of 1,018 adults was conducted in Canada October 22-26. The sample is proportionally weighted by region (BC, Alberta, the Prairies, Ontario, Québec and Atlantic), age and gender according to the 2006 Canadian Census data. The margin of error for the national sample is approximately ±3.1 points.