(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Canada believe their national currency will not attain a record high this year, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 70 per cent of respondents think it is unlikely that the Canadian dollar will rise to $1.25 U.S. in 2008.

In addition, Canadians are evenly divided on the likelihood of having a new prime minister this year, while only 14 per cent believe their country will be ranked number one in the United Nations Human Development Index.

In January 2002, the Canadian dollar was worth $0.61 U.S. In November 2007, the Canadian currency briefly surpassed the $1.10 U.S. mark.

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 December 2006, former environment minister Stéphane Dion became the new leader of the Liberals.

Last month, Harper discussed the year ahead, saying, "I believe 2008 will likely be a challenging year in terms of the economy. (...) There is no way we can be completely insulated from what is going on in the United States or in the global economy."

From 1994 to 2000, Canada headed the United Nations Human Development Index, considered as the global benchmark of education, life expectancy, literacy and standard of living. In 2007, the North American country finished in fourth place, behind Iceland, Norway and Australia.

Polling Data

Do you think each of the following events is likely or unlikely to happen in 2008?

Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,052 Canadian adults, conducted on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14, 2007. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

Other poll highlights: 2007 was a good year personally (67%), for the family (68%) and for Canada (53%), but not for the world (17%). Canadians optimistic about 2008 personally (84%), for their families (83%) and for Canada (62%), but not for the world (39%)

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