What's Pulling Canada Apart? Canadians Point South
Canadians point to growing political divisions, US influence, and the prospect of an Alberta referendum as key challenges facing the country
New polling from Nanos Research takes a look at how Canadians feel about the unity of our country, and specifically what threats they believe could put that unity at risk.
Overall, 37% of Canadians say the country is united, while 26% say it is divided. Another 37% describe Canada as neutral, as respondents were asked to rate the country’s unity on a scale from 0 to 10, with zero meaning very divided and ten meaning very united.
The results were somewhat mixed across the country. Canadians in Atlantic Canada were the most likely to say the nation is united (52%), while those in the prairies were the most likely to say it is divided (39%).
A large share of Canadians landed somewhere in the middle. In Quebec, 40% described Canada as neutral on this question, while 39% of Ontarians shared the same view.
🍁 We don’t have corporate owners, just readers like you.
📓 Join thousands of readers and help keep Polling Canada independent.
When Canadians were asked whether the country is more or less united than it was five years ago, a majority said Canada has become less united (55%), while only 33% believe it is more united. Another 12% said the country is about as united as it was five years ago, with little change.
Once again, those in the prairies were the most likely to say Canada is less united than it was five years ago, with 63% saying so. They were followed by 57% of British Columbians and between 51% and 52% of respondents across the rest of the country.
The highest share of Canadians who believe the country is more united came from Atlantic Canada at 38%, followed by 36% in Ontario and 34% in British Columbia.
So what do Canadians see as the biggest reason for this growing disunity? A majority point to our southern neighbours, which is hardly surprising.
With rumours of US funding for Alberta separation groups, alongside the Trump administration’s impact on the Canadian economy more broadly, it is perhaps unsurprising that 54% of Canadians identify influence from the United States as the biggest threat to national unity.
However, nearly as many Canadians (50%) say political polarization within Canada is also contributing to the country’s unity challenges. That may well be the case, given the Liberals and Conservatives continue to command a combined 78% to 80% of vote intention, creating increasingly clear political divisions across the country.
Other issues Canadians believe threaten national unity include the possibility of an Alberta referendum (45%), economic differences between regions (32%), and the actions of the federal government (31%).
🇨🇦 Already subscribed to our work?
💸 Consider giving others a chance to read our content by giving them a gift subscription here.
Finally, the survey asked Canadians whether they see themselves as primarily Canadian, equally Canadian and connected to their home province, or primarily identified with their home province.
Overall, 59% of Canadians say they see themselves as primarily Canadian, while 24% say they identify equally with Canada and their home province. Another 13% say they identify primarily with their home province.
The share of those who see themselves as primarily Canadian is highest in Ontario at 80%, followed by 58% in British Columbia and 56% in the prairies. Meanwhile, 33% of Atlantic Canadians say they identify equally with Canada and their home province, along with 31% of respondents in both British Columbia and Quebec.
There is one striking difference in the results, though it is not especially surprising: Quebec. Nearly four in ten Quebecers say they see themselves primarily as citizens of their home province, far above the 15% recorded in the prairies (Which is safe to say that the number is slightly higher in Alberta specifically than it is in Saskatchewan or Manitoba).
🙇 Thank you for reading our work, consider subscribing and sharing our work with your friends!