(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in Canada hold complex views on globalization, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 68 per cent of respondents claim globalization has led to job losses in the country, but 62 per cent think it is beneficial to Canada’s economy.

In addition, 74 per cent of respondents believe globalization creates new industries and jobs in developing nations, and 45 per cent think the process is gradually slowing down due to increased regulations, tariffs and environmental restrictions.

Since 1995, 152 countries have joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). Canada is a signatory of six commerce accords, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States and Mexico, and bilateral deals with Chile, Costa Rica, Israel, Peru and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Canadians renewed the House of Commons in January 2006. The Conservative party—led by Stephen Harper—received 36.3 per cent of the vote, and secured 124 seats in the 308-member lower house. Harper leads a minority administration after more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party.

In January, Canadian finance minister Jim Flaherty discussed his views on global trade, saying, "As a government, we recognize that misguided barriers to foreign investment can end up shutting our own entrepreneurs out of new markets, and can only risk harming Canadian success abroad. At the same time, our government is committed to protecting Canada’s interests on those rare occasions when a particular investment might not actually be to our country’s benefit."

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,009 Canadian adults, conducted on Jul. 16 and Jul. 17, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

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