The Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) is an organization which initiates and supports activities in the areas of research, teaching, communications, and the training of students in the field of Canadian Studies along with raising the public awareness of Canadian issues.

Jack Jedwab, Executive Director of the ACS today released the findings of Harris polls conducted in September which reveal that while Canada ranks second amongst America’s allies, a majority of that country’s population no longer describe Canada as a close ally.

When asked to do this ranking in September 2005 the share of Americans regarding Canada as a close ally fell to 48%, a drop of nine points since 2003. Conversely there has been a 10 point increase over that period in those regarding Canada as friendly but not a close ally.

In the meantime the perception of Great Britain as an American ally has remained steady and hence the gap in terms of the appreciation of Great Britain versus Canada has widened. When asked if Americans considered Great Britain a "friendly but not a close ally" to the U.S., poll results indicate a 6 point increase since 2003.

When looking at the situation over a ten-year period it is apparent that September 11th remains an important turning point in relations between Canada and the United States and in the view of Americans, things have yet to recover from that period. While Canada is still viewed as America’s
second closest ally, if there is yet further slippage we may find ourselves falling behind other perceived allies.

When U.S. participants were asked, "Do you feel that Canada is a close ally of the U.S?" 70% answered "yes" in 1996 but only 48% answered "yes" in 2005. When asked "Do you feel that Great Britain is a close ally of the U.S?", 62% answered in the affirmitive in 1996 but in 2005 that number increased to 74%.