The report finds that most Canadians still say that the nation is important to their personal sense of identity. But other identities – such as region or province, language, ethnicity or race – have been growing more important for Canadians over time. These different identities continue to overlap in today’s Canada.

The report gives particular focus to Canadians’ perception of their place in the federation. It finds that Canadians’ views on this vary widely across jurisdictions. But these differences do not easily map onto “regions” within Canada, as views and trends on this issue vary not only across regions, but among neighbouring provinces and territories within regions as well.

Moreover, a sense of shared values persists in Canada. And while the results of this survey clearly show deep divisions across the country on how federalism is working, there is also widespread agreement that a federal-type system is best given Canada’s diversity. Nonetheless, Canadians’ confidence in the country’s capacity to resolve differences is much lower than in 1977.

The survey was conducted online in December 2018 – January 2019 with a representative sample of 5,732 Canadians (18 years and older), stratified to provide for meaningful results in all 13 provinces and territories, as well as Indigenous Peoples across the country.

View Report on Environics website