It's official: Canada is a superior country to the United States

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      This weekend, CNN broadcaster Fareed Zakaria drew attention to America's dismal performance in comparison with other countries.

      Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter was on his program to discuss the 2014 Social Progress Index, which was prepared by a U.S. nonprofit organization, the Social Progress Imperative.

      It demonstrated that Canada ranks far ahead of the United States overall and in the three areas studied: opportunity, basic human needs, and foundations of well-being.

      Overall, Canada ranked seventh behind (in order) New Zealand, Switzerland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. The United States lagged far back in 16th place.

      "Opportunity" looked at personal rights, personal freedom and choice, tolerance and inclusion, and access to advanced education.

      New Zealand came first, followed by Canada, which was quicker than other countries to legalize same-sex marriage. America ranked fifth.

      "Basic human needs" assessed nutrition and basic medical care, water and sanitation, shelter, and personal safety.

      Here, Canada ranked 11th. It was far behind the leader, Denmark, but still well ahead of the United States, which came in 23rd place.

      The foundations of well-being looked at access to basic knowledge, access to information and communications, health and wellness, and ecosystem sustainability.

      Canada fared worst in this category, ranking 17th overall. Our high greenhouse-gas emissions per capita and expensive cellphone service undermined our performance, but the United States was an even greater laggard, coming in 36th place. The leader in this area was Switzerland.

      The study revealed that the United States has the second-highest per capita gross domestic product in the world, but that hasn't necessarily made the country more socially progressive.

      Canada's GDP per capita is $35,936, which is ninth in the world and nearly $10,000 behind the United States.

      Despite this, Canada still emerged as the highest-ranked G8 country on the Social Progress Index.

      Comments

      33 Comments

      Siphre

      Apr 21, 2014 at 11:47am

      Might want to fix your social progress link,

      Stats

      Apr 21, 2014 at 1:20pm

      I am sure this will provide great comfort to the impoverished children in BC!

      All of Canada's social progress was made last century, in the wake of WWII. Today medicare would only be for aboriginals, women and other "historically disadvantaged groups."

      Hazlit

      Apr 21, 2014 at 2:50pm

      Not when Harper is done with it, it won't be. Zimbabwe here we come.

      No Surprise!

      Apr 21, 2014 at 3:34pm

      Canada has always been & continues to be more socially progressive than the United States.

      The Social Progress Index doesn't mention the fact that Canada still produces the best hockey players in the world.

      Jack White

      Apr 21, 2014 at 8:27pm

      Canada's expensive cellphone service & the fact that cellphone company employees are paid poorly is quite sad.

      King Hughes

      Apr 21, 2014 at 8:54pm

      I think you mean the Socialist Progressive Index.

      Canada

      Apr 21, 2014 at 9:05pm

      always gets a hard-on when mentioned on CNN.

      tedeastside

      Apr 21, 2014 at 9:35pm

      America is the most desirable country for all international immigrants..... America is the most influential country in the history of man kind.....

      Canada is a dead end no opportunity country, anybody with career ambition goes to America....America has amazing cities, and really is the land of opportunity

      seriously what can you actually do in canada....and who wants to freeze in Canada ...only immigrants looking for handouts come to canada....America gets educated high quality immigrants

      Canadian hockey

      Apr 22, 2014 at 12:42am

      Hey tedeastside,

      I'm assuming you're American, eh? If you're Canadian and living in Canada, then why the hell are you still living here?

      Obamacare is a joke! The American Olympic hockey team sucks! The lax American gun laws are sad.
      Have you checked the real estate prices in Vancouver lately? Are you sure there's no investment here? I guess the people that can't afford to live here will always complain.

      Pat

      Apr 22, 2014 at 4:34am

      Yeah, I am a dual citizen because my father is CFO of an American co. We live in Toronto and I have lived in Colorado; Toronto is far better than Colorado is every way imaginable. I have never had so much fun in a city, ever, period. Canadian's are down to earth, all of them are rich or at-least high middle class in Toronto.. For how many bums there is a very high % of upper middle. All of my friends are upper middle and I don't make friends with just rich kids.

      A lot of my friends in Colorado were quite poor with no backdoor pools, a very tiny bungalow.. Every middle class individual in Toronto seems to have a in-ground backyard pool.. Just overall from sight, the quality of life in Toronto is far superior than that of Colorado but take what I say with a grain of salt. Make the move sometime for yourself if there is an opportunity that allows it. Canada is great, world class restaurants, snowboarding or skiing in Banff, mountain climbing, night life, plays, concerts, hockey games, ufc fights @ rogers center, great social programs for people that need it. Anyone can go to university if their knowledge permits it. In Colorado I knew plenty of friends that knew college was unrealistic because of their families financial situation. In Canada a dirt poor student applies for OSAP gets approved and off they are gone to university.

      How do I know? I'm moved out of Toronto now and go to University of Western Ontario one of the best schools in Canada and believe me prominent foreigners are here. I have friends from bejing who's fathers are worth upwards to a billion and same with friends from UAE.

      So get out of here with all the B/S. Canada is far superior to USA and I know I've experienced them both. Except in Canada there is no hidden costs like USA. USA is king of hidden costs, the health care is so shit there it was a determining factor why my dad came to Canada. This is how USA insurance works, you pay into it every month, then when something happens you pay a deductible. WOW GREAT, AWESOME, PAY ALL YEAR FOR AN ACCIDENT TO PAY MORE.

      In Canada you pay ZERO and get fixed up. Wait times? I broke my ankle two years ago I got into the ER and within a half hour I got fixed up. It is all relevant to the date and time and location. Canadians can also go to USA for med-care while enjoying the best country. Every season exists here but not much change for me. Canada !