A person uses a fan to stay cool at the Canada Day noon show in Ottawa on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
A recent survey by Leger indicates that while most Canadians still hold pride in their country, the overall sense of national pride has declined over the past few years.
Conducted ahead of Canada Day, the poll interviewed 1,607 Canadians, alongside a group of 1,003 Americans polled before the Fourth of July. Results show that 76% of Canadians consider themselves proud Canadians.
However, a significant 45% of respondents admitted feeling less proud compared to five years ago. This sentiment has increased by 16 percentage points since 2021, highlighting a growing trend of diminishing national pride.
When asked about the aspects that make them proud to be Canadian, natural beauty topped the list, followed closely by universal healthcare, freedom, equality, a peaceful society, and multiculturalism. Surprisingly, only one in five respondents cited their fellow citizens as a source of pride.
The survey also pointed out concerns that affect national pride, with healthcare issues such as long wait times, lack of family doctors, and crowded emergency rooms ranking prominently. Economic inequality and poverty were also major factors diminishing Canadians' pride in their country, closely followed by dissatisfaction with the current federal government.
Interestingly, political affiliations played a role in perceptions of national pride. Conservative voters, particularly from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, expressed higher levels of pride than other regions. Conversely, Quebecers were most likely to report unchanged or diminished levels of national pride, with only 22% planning to celebrate Canada Day.
In total, only 7% of respondents reported feeling more proud than in 2019, while 45% felt no change in their sentiments.
In comparison, south of the border, American sentiments towards national pride showed a mixed response. About 20% of Americans felt more proud than five years ago, while 35% reported no change, and 35% indicated a decline in pride. Half of American respondents believed their country was among the best places to live, slightly higher than the 41% of Canadians who shared this sentiment.
Looking forward, 25% of Canadians believed their country still has work to do to live up to its global reputation, contrasting with just 5% of Americans who expressed similar doubts about the U.S. Instead, 27% of Americans expressed optimism about their country's future, compared to only 8% of Canadians who felt similarly hopeful about Canada's prospects.
In summary, while Canadian national pride remains strong in many respects, challenges such as healthcare issues and regional differences underscore ongoing concerns affecting the national sentiment.
