#2 (and climbing?)

Yet more evidence that when given an honest comparison, investors, tourists and others around the world like Canada just fine the way it is:

The Anholt-GMI Nation Brands Index, an analytical ranking of the world's nation brands, placed Canada just behind Australia in terms of brand power.

The group's second quarterly report surveyed 10,000 people on their perceptions of a country's cultural, political and tourist appeal, as well as investment potential.

Canada, a new country in the survey, bumped Britain out of the second place.

It was the second choice among countries for investment, immigration, people and governance, and third in the tourism category.

The one area of concern was a very low ranking in culture, which probably merits more attention than it receives.

But the most important finding from the survey is that despite a tax-slashing, regulation-ignoring regime to the south of us, Canada still ranks as a more attractive place for investment. (And in fact, the U.S. ranked 11th out of 25 overall.) Funny what a healthy, well-educated and hospitable populace can do.