[Toro]

I thought this may have been posted already. I didn't see it, though.

$1:

Poll says most North Americans support free trade

Updated Sun. Sep. 30 2007 11:20 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Twenty years after Canada and the United States negotiated the controversial Free Trade Agreement, most North Americans believe the deal fueled economic growth, according to a new poll.

The FTA was finalized in October 1987 and was designed to erase trade restrictions between the two countries. Critics worried it would erode Canada's sovereignty.

But 77 percent of Americans and 73 per cent of Canadians now believe free trade is crucial to North America's continued prosperity, according to an exclusive poll for Policy Options magazine that was provided to CTV News.

The survey was conducted by SES Research.

Among Canadians, 57 per cent of respondents said their country would be worse off without free trade. For Americans, it was 55.6 per cent.

By contrast, exactly one quarter of Canadians said their country would be better off without free trade, while 19.1 per cent of Americans said the same. ...

The FTA was superseded by the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, which brought in Mexico as another major trade partner.

When respondents were asked if they supported strengthening economic integration between Canada and the U.S., 67 per cent of Canadians said yes.

The poll also covered another sovereignty issue: the movement of people between Canada and the U.S.

Despite heightened concerns about terrorism since the attacks of 9/11, the survey found that 58 per cent of Americans supported the free movement of people across the border -- although 29.8 per cent only "somewhat supported" the idea.

For Canadians, it was a total of 64 per cent.

And when asked if respondents supported or somewhat supported creating a more integrated rail, highway and air transportation infrastructure between the two countries, a total of 72 per cent of Canadians backed the idea.

Americans were only slightly less enthusiastic at 67 per cent.

"This should be a bit of a reality check for American legislators down in Washington, that for Americans, when they view Canadians, they see the future as more access," said Nanos.

Canadian business leaders said the survey should help them to convince U.S. politicians to stop focusing on tighter border control.

"The concerns that Americans have about terrorists coming from Canada is not a widely shared concern among Americans," said Thomas D'Aquino of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... TopStories

[DrCaleb]

People will agree to anything, if you ask the right questions. Like many poll results, i notice they don't mention those.

Q1: How would you rate the importance of free trade between Canada and the United States on enabling North American companies to compete globally?

Q2: How would you rate the importance of free trade between Canada and the US on ensuring North America's furute prosperity?

Q3: Would your country be better off, worse off, or would there be no impact if there was no free trade agreement between Canada and the US?

Q4: Do you support, somewhat support, neither support nor oppose, somewhat oppose or oppose enhancing the free movement of people between Canada and the United States?

Q5: Do you support, somewhat support, neither support nor oppose, somewhat oppose or oppose creating stronger economic ties with the US?

Q6: Do you support, somewhat support, neither support nor oppose, somewhat oppose, or oppose building a more integrated rail, highway and air transportation infrastructure between Canada and the US?

http://www.sesresearch.com/news/in_the_ ... 02007E.pdf


No wonder the CTV didn't print the actual questions! Ipsos-Reid did a poll on trade agreements in 2004 where they found that

"Six In Ten Canadians (62%) Disagree That Canada Should Sign A Trade Agreement That Would Open Canada’s Public Services to Competition From Foreign Companies"


and

A Further Six In Ten (60%) Disagree That Government Should Sign Deals That Would Allow Corporations to Directly Sue The Government of Canada If Our Public Policies Impair Their Ability to Make Profits

http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=2224

So, I wonder if those questions actually mentioned 'NAFTA' if the results would be the same.

[BartSimpson]

Screw "free trade" - I want fair trade.

[Zipperfish]

We get screwed by free trade by the Americans regularly, but it still, far and away, a great deal for Canada. Just look at the trade surplus.

[Arctic_Menace]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

Screw "free trade" - I want fair trade.

[DerbyX]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

Screw "free trade" - I want fair trade.

I got a used Xbox with loads of games (my new Xbox 360 has supplanted it).

What'll ya trade me for it?

[Clogeroo]

$1:

Screw "free trade" - I want fair trade.

Free trade is fair though. The best thing your country and mine could do would be to relax import duties especially on developing countries and stop handing out our money to agricultural, industrial, and commercial enterprises. If we allowed open competition between markets it would be the best thing for us and many people around the world.

[Toro]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

Screw "free trade" - I want fair trade.

Fair trade is the siren call for protectionists.

[Canadian_Mind]

DerbyX DerbyX:

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

Screw "free trade" - I want fair trade.

I got a used Xbox with loads of games (my new Xbox 360 has supplanted it).

What'll ya trade me for it?

Depending on the games available, I'd say that'd be worth between 100-200 dollars.

[dog77_1999]

Agreed. Free trade is a ultimatly a good thing for everyone. It makes everyone do what they are good at. Heck my job right now wouldn't exist if it weren't for free trade deals like NAFTA. Consequently, our plant up in Edminton wouldn't exist either.

[Toro]

Oh, and Caleb,

Thanks for finding the poll details.

[DrCaleb]

No problemo, Toro.

I dislike it when the MSM tries to convince me what is good for me, by using 'padded' statistics.