united states

No socio-cultural change in North America has been more consequential over the past century than changes in attitudes and expectations related to the role and status of women in society.

America is deeply divided on issues related to immigrants and refugees, while in Canada, which accepts larger proportions of newcomers, there is a general consensus in the country over the issue.

Cultures have their own myths, institutions and trajectories. Some things have changed in America, as in other societies: slavery was abolished, women got the vote, same-sex marriage was allowed. 

In early 2007, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani led the pack of would-be Republican nominees for president – but some worried he was “too metropolitan” for heartland voters.

Amid an international scene convulsed by populist political uprisings, Canada appears placid, at least on its surface. As the US, Britain, and other societies retrench, the international media have taken notice of Canada’s apparent calm.

As icons of masculinity, it would be hard to find a more vivid contrast than that between US president Donald Trump and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Two-thirds of Canadians (65%) support the Liberal government’s promise to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada, according to a recent Nanos survey. About a third (34%) oppose the move either strongly or somewhat.

Why does demographic change matter to politics? Different demographic groups are not hard-wired to vote differently.

By now, you may have made the acquaintance of Shona Holmes, a woman from Waterdown, Ont., who says her life was almost cut short by the plodding, government-run health care system of her native Canada.