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Younger Canadians feel far less national pride than Baby Boomers: poll
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Source: Flickr
Canadians' sense of national pride appears to be dwindling with age.
The younger you are, the less likely you are to have it, a new poll
finds.
The poll from Abacus Data suggests that while two-thirds of
respondents felt proud to be Canadian, the sentiment was most common
among those aged 60 or older, and lowest among those between 18-29.
Less than half of respondents aged 18 to 29, said they felt proud to
be Canadian at 49%, whereas that figure jumped up to 81% among those
60 or older.
Those aged 30-44 were slightly more likely to be proud Canadians, but
not by much at 58%.
"The findings highlight significant generational variations in
Canadian pride, with a majority expressing pride anchored in Canada's
natural beauty, societal safety, healthcare system, inclusivity, and
cultural diversity. Despite facing economic and societal challenges, a
resilient sense of well-being and optimism prevails among many
Canadians," reads the poll.
Of those values, 70% of respondents said that Canada's natural beauty
and environment was the leading reason for their sense of pride.
While 61% said that it was the country's reputation for being a
peaceful and safe society and another 61% cited the availability of
universal healthcare as the reason.
A little over half of the respondents, 53%, cited Canada's cultural
diversity and multiculturalism as the reason for their pride.
"These findings highlight that Canadians take pride in a variety of
aspects that define their nation," reads the survey. "Reinforcing a
deep and multifaceted sense of national pride across the country."
However, economic struggles (55%) and Canada's lack of opportunity
(53%) were the leading causes for those who do not feel proud to be
Canadian.
Behind the struggling economy, those who did not feel proud of their
national identity cited Canada's global reputation or perception, at
42%.
Another cohort of 39% cited negative experiences with Canadian
institutions, while 37% cited "perceived inequalities or injustices in
Canadian society."
"These insights highlight the complex interplay of personal
experiences and societal challenges that influence Canadians' feelings
towards national pride," reads the survey.
Slightly less than half of respondents reported having a positive
quality of life at 49%, while only 14% said that despite facing these
challenges, their quality of life was not poor.
Again, quality of life varied by generation, with 58% of those aged 60
and older giving a positive response, compared to 43% of those aged 45
to 59.
The findings were similar regarding happiness, with more than half of
respondents over 60 (51%) saying that they felt overall happiness and
personal well-being, with that figure dropping to only 20% with those
aged 18 to 29.
The same generational divide persisted when respondents were asked if
they felt optimistic about their future, as younger Canadians were the
more likely to say the county is headed in the wrong direction.
"Economic struggles, political disagreements, and societal
inequalities temper this pride, especially among younger Canadians,"
reads the survey.
"These issues underscore the complex realities that shape national
sentiment, reflecting a mix of pride in what Canada stands for and
concern over areas needing improvement, as well as the current
challenges facing the country today."
The survey was conducted with 1,926 Canadian adults from June 20 to
25, 2024 and has a margin of error of 19 times out of 20.
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