" 99% of the 'world' doesn't know a thing about Canada. "

Over the past ten years, wandering the world as an itinerant housesitter, I have lived in 11 foreign countries and talked to a lot of foreigners, sometimes (in a rudimentary manner) in their own languages.  I have yet to meet anyone with a poor opinion of Canada, except for right-wing Americans who were fed lies about our health care system during the launch of Obamacare.  Everyone else had an opinion of Canada and it was always positive.  Beautiful country.  Friendly people.  And they came and died for us when we fought the Nazis.

And, for the record, I am no Laurentian elitist.  I am a university drop-out from a working-poor immigrant family who, by a fluke, became a consulting speechwriter to the rich and powerful in BC.  I have seen a broader spectrum of life than most people and I have no trouble in saying this is the best country in the world.