The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Even before we know whom President George W. Bush will be running against this fall, Canadians have made their decision. Only 15 per cent, according to an exclusive new poll conducted by Maclean's magazine, would cast a ballot for Bush if they had the opportunity. And if Americans remain almost evenly divided - 50 per cent approve of his performance in the White House and he's running neck and neck with his likely Democratic challengers - there is no such dithering on this side of the border. Just 12 per cent of us north of the border feel Canada is better off since Bush took office. And less than one third of respondents will admit to liking the world's most powerful man, even just a little bit. The cover of the Maclean's issue hitting newsstands this week features a photo of the President and the cover line: "Canadians to Bush: Hope you lose, eh." "It's true Canadians have generally perceived Democratic presidents as being more in tune with our values," says national correspondent Jonathon Gatehouse. "But where Ronald Reagan and Bush the elder were at least grudgingly respected, the current President is decidedly not. There's an 'anybody but Bush' sentiment out there." But Gatehouse also examines whether Canadians might be in need of a dose of perspective. With the Canadian political landscape now virtually emptied of leaders they feel passionately about - either negatively or positively - they might be guilty of a bit of transference. And now, with the U.S. showing willingness to stand alone and demand the obeisance due to the last remaining superpower, can Canada afford to continue to pride itself in being one of our neighbour's harshest critics? The nationwide survey of 1,367 Canadians, ages 18 years and over, was conducted by Toronto-based Pollara Inc. between January 20 and January 25, 2004.
