Pride in Canadian Symbols and Institutions

1. Pride in Canadian Symbols and Institutions Jack Jedwab Association for Canadian Studies November 26, 2012

2. Introduction Canadians generally hold their country in high esteem and tend to believe that we are viewed positively outside of Canada. That which follows examines those institutions, structures, events, policies, projects and symbols which tend to define us. The following question was asked: How important are each of the following as a source of personal or collective pride in Canada? Are they very important, somewhat important, not very important or not important at all? Some things clearly define us more than others. We shall observe that there are certain things in which most Canadians take pride and others around which there is divergence notably between Quebecers and other Canadians

3. Methodology The findings were collected from a survey of 2200 Canadians conducted by the firm Leger Marketing during the week of November 5th, 2012 and commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies. Done by web panel, the margin of error for an equivalent telephone survey is 2.9 percent 19 times out of 20

4. Universal Health Care tops list when it comes to overall importance of sources of Canadian pride

5. Monarchy at the bottom of the list when it comes to overall Canadian sources of pride

6. Our global reputation, health care, economic performance, rights charter and passport amongst shared sources of pride between Quebecers and other Canadians

7. Official Languages, National Anthem, 1812 and the monarchy are areas where gaps in pride are largest between Quebec and other provinces

8. Pride in multiculturalism greater amongst allophones, monarchy amongst anglophones and official languages amongst francophones

9. When asked what they consider “very important” health care tops everyone’s list but charter rights do well amongst allophones and official languages amongst francophones