Canadians’ Opinions on China Are Growing Increasingly Negative, New Poll Finds

People hold signs calling for China to release Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig during an extradition hearing for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on March 6, 2019. Lindsey Wasson/Reuters

TORONTO—Canadian impressions of China have suffered a sharp decline in the wake of recent tensions between the two countries, according to a new poll.

Conducted for The Globe and Mail by Nanos Research in late July, the poll found that an overwhelming 90 percent of Canadians responded that they had a “negative” or “somewhat negative” impression of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his country.