Americans More Anxious About Future than Canucks: Poll

(CTV News)

Canadians are more likely than Americans to think NAFTA has been bad for their country, while the economy and the soaring cost of fuel have become top issues on both sides of the border, according to a new poll.

The bi-national survey was conducted by The Strategic Counsel for CTV and The Globe and Mail, and involved interviews with 1,000 people in Canada and 1,000 in the U.S.

Among Canadians, 44 per cent thought the North American Free Trade Agreement was bad for Canada, while 43 per cent thought the opposite. The results suggest the debate over NAFTA is far from over, 14 years after the deal came into effect.

“I think it’s a sleeper issue,” Peter Donolo, a partner in The Strategic Counsel, told CTV.ca. “I think that neither one of the two major parties wants to exploit it, or is in a position to exploit it. The question is whether it could ignite the moribund political standing of the NDP.”

NAFTA became a central issue in the U.S. Democratic nomination race, with both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton suggesting they would be willing to renegotiate the trade deal.

However, Americans seemed more favourable to NAFTA, with 46 per cent saying it was good for the United States and 36 per cent saying it was bad.

On both sides of the border, the economy was a major concern.

Among Canadians, unemployment issues and the economy was tied with gas prices as the number one issue, at 18 per cent. The environment was just behind at 16 per cent.

Here are the top issues with a percentage-point change from a Jan. 10-13 poll in brackets:

• Economic issues: 18 per cent (+6)
• Gas prices: 18 per cent (+15)
• Environmental issues: 16 per cent (-6)
• Health care: 11 per cent (-1)
• Social/Moral issues: 9 per cent (N/A)
• Foreign policy issues: 6 per cent (-2)

Less than a year ago, gas prices had barely registered at 3 per cent, while the environment had been the top issue at 22 per cent.

“The economy has been growing as an issue of concern for Canadians,” said Donolo. We’ve seen gas prices throughout the summer as a big issue, and we’ve seen a number of car plant closings.” Read more.