Quiz: Do you think like the average Canadian?

Answers:
1. c) Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Canadians believe that reducing waiting lists for diagnostic services like MRIs and CAT scans should be a top priority for more health care spending.

2. b) 94% of Canadians would put their trust in a firefighter. Pharmacists are close behind at 91%, with doctors at 85% and airline pilots at 81%.

3. c) 93% of everyone plugged into the net use it to send e-mail (what the other seven per cent is doing I'm not sure). The number two thing we do is check the weather (65%). Only half (50%) use instant messaging and 53% use the web for online banking.

4. c) 43% of Canadians feel the world is changing too quickly and this is a major cause of stress. Frighteningly, the percentage of Canadians who agree there has been a time when they've been under so much stress that they've wanted to commit suicide is 17.

5. a - c - d - b: a) 50% would share with family, c) 39% would donate to charity, d) 35% would travel and b) only 23% of us would use it to pay off debt. Only 10% would quit their jobs!

6. d) 95% of parents in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are worried about funding their children's education. Atlantic Canada follows at 93%, with Ontario at 86% -- parents in Quebec are the least worried at 74%.

7. a) 40% of Canadians will tromp through the snow to enjoy a juicy flame-broiled burger, and most of these brave souls hail from Alberta (in fact, 57% of all Albertans will barbecue all year round).

8. d) Swimming and piano top the chart with 16% of all Canadian kids enrolled. Soccer is next at 15% with hockey close behind at 13%. Only 6% of kids are doing martial arts after school.

9. b) Women are far more likely to remember to brush their tongues than men (62% vs. 47%). Women also floss more (69% vs. 55%) and check their gums more (57% vs. 49%). There were no stats on regular brushing, and frankly we just don't want to know.

10. a) 80% of Canadians look for how much fibre is in their food. Vitamins are close behind at 79%. Counting calories is important to 74%, and 67% look at total fat, while just 63% observe saturated fats.

11. b) 33% of us hide what we have paid for something from our spouses. The next highest item was hiding a child's behaviour or grades at 13%, failure at work took 7% and damage to the car rested at 5%.

12. b) Saskatchewan -- more people have suffered a broken heart there than anywhere else. Interestingly, the place where you are least likely to get a broken heart is Quebec (ah, l'amour!). 43% of all Canadians say they have suffered a broken heart at one time or another.

13. c) 69% of pet owners allow their pets in their beds at night -- well, 69% admitted to it.

14. c) Over one-third (33%) of Canadians think Newfoundlanders have the best sense of humour. 13% think Quebeckers are funny while only 1% think Prince Edward Islanders can get a laugh.

15. b) British Columbians are most likely to say we are different from the Americans. The
province whose residents are least likely to think so is Alberta.

Agree? Disagree? Share your opinion in our forums!

Score:
11 - 15
Congratulations! You have your finger on the pulse of what Canadians think today. Celebrate with a 100% all-Canadian beef burger cooked outside on the barbecue.

6 - 10
Not bad! It's hard to predict a collective brain of 35 million, so great effort. Go snuggle in bed with Mr. Whiskers and read a good Canadian magazine.

0 - 5
You live deep inside the Canadian Shield with your eyes closed and fingers in your ears. Try to get out a little more.