GUNTER: What to make of a spike in national pride this Canada Day

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We Canadians are prouder to be Canadian this Canada Day than we were last July 1.

Thanks, Donald Trump, and your repeated boorish taunts about Canada becoming the 51st state.

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But thanks, too, to Justin Trudeau for leaving the P.M.’s job.

The former prime minister was not proud of Canada for what it was. He called the country “genocidal” and “colonial.” And he offered a very weak defence against mobs that tore down statues of prominent historical figures like John A. Macdonald and Queen Victoria, or burned historic churches.

Trudeau seemed to apologize for everything that had ever been done by the federal government before he became PM (And nothing while he was prime minister.) His constant apologies undermined public faith in the nation.

So the recent surge in pride in the country may have as much to do with Trudeau leaving and taking his disappointment with him, as it does with Trump coming in and disparaging our independence.

An extensive new survey by Abacus Data shows that 68 per cent of Canadians are proud of this country. That’s not a staggering increase since 2024 – just two per cent. And the Abacus survey doesn’t include a detailed regional breakdown, so there is no way of knowing how Albertans feel, in particular.

But I, a passionately proud Albertan, can tell you how I feel.

While I am prouder of Canada this year than I was last, I cannot say for sure that I would never vote to leave. I would say the chances of me voting for separation are less than 50/50. And the odds depend entirely on central Canada finally accepting the West as a full and equal part of Confederation.

However, I have spent nearly all of my adult life arguing for a fairer deal for Alberta and the West only to have central Canadians dismiss our grievances and scoff at us for feeling unjustly treated.

Like lots of Albertans, I have also watched as the self-same central Canadians have fallen all over themselves attempting to appease Quebec and its grievances – and squeezing us for the money to pay for it.

It may sound weird, but having said all that about my reservations with Confederation, I too feel prouder of Canada this year. And it’s because of Trump’s sneering, bullying, recurrent mocking about 51st-state status.

The one thing I can say for sure this year, that I would not have said last year, is that if Alberta were ever to go its own way, I’ve soured on our province becoming the next star in the American flag.

Trump has blown the allure of that option.

But what makes Canadians so proud of this country on our national day?

Abacus says we are most proud of “our natural beauty and the environment.” Sixty-five per cent of respondents cited Canada’s lakes, rivers, mountains, forests and (at least for me) bald-headed prairie.

Not only do we have a lot of land (the second-largest landmass in the world), but much of it is stunningly beautiful. And most of us live a relatively short time from a gorgeous, tranquil, inspiring site – or several.

The second reason for our national pride (62 per cent) is our belief that this is a “peaceful and safe society.” We are in danger of losing that with rising crime and societal divisions over world events, but for now, that is a key factor.

Then comes universal health care at 60 per cent. This shouldn’t be true. It’s the product of decades of indoctrination. There are plenty of single-payer systems around the world that are as good or better than ours. But we do have tens of thousands of dedicated health professionals who provide superb care, of whom we should be genuinely proud.

Other reasons cited in the survey “being distinct from the United States” (56 per cent), tolerance and inclusivity (56 per cent), “sense of community” (43 per cent), human rights, Indigenous culture and the arts.

Whatever your reason, be proud to be Canadian. Happy Canada Day!

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