Canadian Pride Runs High, Even as Regional Grievances Persist
Canadians remain attached to their country, but some provinces aren’t convinced they’re getting a fair deal in Confederation.
New polling from the Angus Reid Institute takes a fresh look at how proud Canadians feel about their country — and which provinces they believe are getting a good deal, or a raw one, within Confederation.
Overall, 61% of Canadians say they are either very proud or proud to be Canadian. Pride is strongest in Atlantic Canada, where 74% express that sentiment, followed by Manitoba (68%) and British Columbia (67%).
Another 20% of Canadians say they are only somewhat proud to be Canadian. This view is most prevalent in Quebec, where 27% chose that option, followed by British Columbia at 21%.
At the other end of the spectrum, just 16% of Canadians say they are not very proud or not proud at all to be Canadian. That share is highest in Saskatchewan (22%), Alberta (21%), and Quebec (20%).
The survey also explored how emotionally attached Canadians feel to their country. A majority (54%) say they have a deep emotional attachment to Canada and love what it stands for. This view is most common in Atlantic Canada (66%), Ontario (61%), and British Columbia (58%).
Another 32% say they feel attached to Canada so long as it continues to provide a good standard of living. This conditional attachment is especially common in Quebec (40%), Manitoba (36%), and British Columbia (31%).
At the far end of the spectrum, 9% of respondents say they are not attached to Canada and would prefer to see the country split into smaller nations. Unsurprisingly, this view is most common in Alberta (17%), Saskatchewan (17%), and Quebec (16%).
A further 5% of Canadians say they would prefer Canada to join the United States. That sentiment is most prevalent in Saskatchewan (8%) and Manitoba (7%).
Attachment to Canada also varies sharply by vote choice in the 2025 federal election. Liberal and New Democratic voters are the most likely to say they feel deeply attached to Canada, at 78% and 59%, respectively.
By contrast, Conservative and Bloc Québécois voters are less likely to express deep attachment, and more likely to say their attachment depends on Canada delivering a good standard of living (34% among Conservatives and 43% among Bloc voters).
It is also among Conservative and Bloc voters that support for breaking up the country is highest. Fully 37% of Bloc voters say they would prefer to see Canada split into smaller countries, compared with 14% of Conservative voters. Another 11% of Conservatives say they would rather see Canada join the United States.
These views on national attachment tie closely into perceptions of how provinces fare within Confederation.
When asked which province or region is getting a raw deal — meaning it gives more than it gets from being part of Canada — 29% of Canadians pointed to Alberta. Another 21% said no province is getting a raw deal.
Among Albertans themselves, 56% believe their province is getting a raw deal, while 32% say the same about neighbouring Saskatchewan. Another 18% of Albertans say western Canada as a whole is treated unfairly, while 23% say no province is being shortchanged.
Quebecers, interestingly, show some sympathy toward Alberta’s position: 21% say Alberta is getting a raw deal. By contrast, just 2% of Albertans say the same about Quebec. Overall, 31% of Quebecers believe their own province is getting a raw deal, while another 31% say they are unsure.
Canadians are more unified when it comes to identifying which provinces benefit disproportionately from Confederation. A plurality (42%) say Quebec gets an extra advantage — meaning it receives more than it contributes. That view is held by 59% of Albertans and, notably, by 22% of Quebecers themselves.
Another 22% of Canadians say Ontario gets an extra advantage, including 37% of Albertans and 14% of Quebecers. Only 15% of Ontarians agree with that assessment of their own province.
Atlantic Canada is also seen by many as benefiting disproportionately: 21% of Canadians say the region gets an extra advantage, including 35% of Albertans and 21% of Quebecers. Just 15% of Atlantic Canadians share that view.
Only 15% of Canadians say that no province gets an extra advantage — a smaller share than the 21% who believe no province is getting a raw deal.
In the end, while Canadians disagree sharply over which provinces gain or lose within Confederation, the broader picture remains one of national pride: a strong majority still express attachment to Canada as the country heads into 2026.
Read the full report here.
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