July 2024: Canadian Interest in American News & Politics

Executive Summary

This third edition of the Canadian Information Ecosystem Situation Report covers July 2024, drawing on 440,053 social media posts from 2,272 unique entities across 4,276 active social handles for the period June 26 to July 23, 2024, and a survey of 1,463 Canadian adults conducted July 24 to 29 (margin of error +/-2.6%, 19 times out of 20).

A busy month in American politics captured Canadian attention. Only 8% care more about the outcome of the next Canadian federal election (82%) than the upcoming US election (74%). Interest in Canadian news (24%) sits within the margin of error of US news (22%), with most Canadians equally interested in both (55%), meaning more than three quarters are as interested in American news as Canadian news.

More than one third of Canadians believe the United States covertly influences Canadian politics, and they are now more concerned about foreign influence from the USA than India (39% versus 32%); majorities continue to believe China and Russia (63% and 52%) are also covertly attempting to influence Canadian politics and elections.

Attention to news and politics rose sharply, with national news consumption up 5% and international up 6%, while news avoidance fell 5% (from 34% to 29%). On mediums, three quarters of Canadians use digital means for news weekly, almost half still use legacy radio and TV, and one third report using print.