'Canada's reputation is tanking' has been a narrative pushed by anti-Conservatives for some time now.

Fortunately, it's not true.

According to a new poll, released Thursday, Canada actually has the best reputation in the world for the third year in a row.

As explained by Forbes magazine, the Reputation Institute's annual 2013 Country RepTrak Study, asked 27,000 people in all the G-8 countries to give their opinions about 50 countries. Respondents were asked four top-line questions on a country's "overall reputation", about whether respondents had a "good feeling" about said country, about how much they "admired" the country and about how much they "trusted" the country.

They were then asked 16 questions under three comprehensive categories: Effective government, appealing environment and advanced economy.

Canada finished with a score of 76.6 out of 100 and was followed by Sweden (76.5), Switzerland (76.3), Australia (76.1), and Norway (74.1).

At the other end of the spectrum was are Russia (36.7), Nigeria (34.0), Pakistan (28.8), Iran (22.6), and Iraq (21.2). The United States finished 22nd.

"Canada’s results confirm that it is only possible to maintain a strong reputation in the long-term when a country has the ability to transmit its leadership globally in each of the three key criteria," Fernando Prado, Managing Partner of Reputation Institute, said in a press release.

[ Related: Are Canada’s political scandals ruining our reputation overseas? ]

The Reputation Institute poll confirms the findings of a BBC- commissioned poll released last month. Canada finished second to only Germany in that report which indicated our reputation abroad was improving.

Those beliefs, however, differ from the opposition parties' who say our reputation is diminishing because of the Tories' policies on international affairs, the environment and the First Nations.

On Thursday, for example, the NDP's Paul Dewar chided the Conservative government for its dealings in the international sphere.

"Dewar also blamed [Foreign Affairs Minister John] Baird for embarrassing Canada and souring relations with the United Nations by pulling out of various treaties or failing to honour others," the Canadian Press reported.

[ Related: Dewar blasts Conservatives over diplomat strike ]

But as the poll reveals, when you step back and see the forest for the trees — we're still in pretty good shape. We've got a relatively strong economy, well-respected social policies and a strong stable government.

Heck, we're better than in 'good shape' — we're number one.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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