Annex

Canadian Public Opinion on the G7 Institution and Issues, 1993/4

Importance of the G7 Summit 1993-1994

Meetings are Important (1993) 71%
Good for Canada (1994) 72%
Waste of Time and Money (1993) 28%
Waste of Time and Money (1994) 25%
No Opinion (1993) 1%
No Opinion (1994) 3%

Summit support is most widespread in Atlantic Canada and least pronounced in Quebec. Summit sceptics were disproportionately senior citizens, the less well educated, and poorer Canadians.

Questions: 1993 and 1994

1993: "Some people say that these meetings are a waste of time and money because nothing substantial is ever really accomplished at them. Other people say that because the economies of all these countries are so closely linked, these meetings are important and give the leaders an opportunity to discuss problems and share ideas on how to solve them. Thinking of these two points of view, which one best reflects your own?"

1994: "Some people say that Canada's participation in the G7 Summit is a waste of time and money for Canada because nothing is ever really accomplished at them. Other people say that participating in the Summit gives Canada an opportunity to influence events in ways that are good for this country. Which one of these two points of view is closest to your own?"

Issues for the G7 Summit

1993 Tokyo G7 Summit

Most Important Economic Issue and Most Important Other Issues (Integrated)

The Environment 37%
Unemployment 30%
Government Debt 25%
Stop Nuclear Weapons Spread 25%
World Trade 17%
Developing Nations Economies 13%
Aid to Poorer Countries 11%
Inflation 10%
Social/Political Reform USSR 8%
Fighting in Former Yugoslavia 7%
Former USSR Economy 4%

1994 Naples G7 Summit

Most Important Economic Issue and Most Important Other Issue (Integrated)

The Environment 44%
Unemployment 39%
Government Debt 37%
Nuclear Weapons Spread 17%
Bosnian Fighting 13%
Poorer Country Aid 12%
World Trade 11%
Middle East Peace 11%
Developing Nations' Economies 10%
Russia's Reform 1%

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(Sources: Decima Quarterly Report, Summer 1993; Harris Canada Poll, Taken May 1994)