A recent Leger poll reveals that Canadians are rallying behind their maple leaf with renewed vigor, spurred by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and bold sovereignty threats. Conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies, the survey shows national pride soaring from 80% in November 2024 to 86% in March 2025.
Older Canadians are leading the charge, with 92% of those 55 and up beaming with pride, followed by 86% of those aged 35-54, and 75% of the 18-34 crowd. The online poll, surveying over 1,500 Canadians on March 1-2, reflects a nation standing tall—though, as an online survey, it lacks a margin of error.
The pride surge ripples across regions. Quebec’s patriotism climbed from 81% to 86%, Ontario’s from 80% to 87%, the Prairies from 77% to 86%, and British Columbia saw a whopping leap from 70% to 90%. However, the tide ebbed slightly in Atlantic Canada (91% to 89%) and Alberta (84% to 74%).
Language adds flavor to the findings: 80% of francophone youth (18-34) feel proud, outpacing their anglophone peers at 74%. Among older groups, anglophones take the lead—89% of those 35-54 and 93% of those 55+ proudly wave the flag, compared to 84% and 87% of francophones, respectively.
Beyond language, pride unites diverse identities: 81% of visible minorities, 85% of immigrants, and 85% of Indigenous respondents say they’re proud to be Canadian.
Jack Jedwab, head of the Metropolis Institute and the Association for Canadian Studies, calls this the highest pride level he’s seen in decades of polling. “Trump’s talk of ‘economic force’ to swallow Canada has lit a fire under us,” he said, noting Quebec’s outsized role in boosting the numbers. “It’s forging a rare unity.”
Moments before Mark Carney’s confirmation as Liberal leader and prime minister-designate on Sunday, former PM Jean Chrétien declared Trump an unexpected unifier, binding Canadians “like never before.”
A companion Leger poll from the same weekend found 53% of Canadians see Americans as their closest kin globally, yet 78% insist shared Canadian values set them apart. Respondents pinpointed what makes them unique: 15% cited warmth and friendliness, 14% kindness and politeness, 12% inclusivity, and 12% respect for civil rights.
Jedwab ties this to a rejection of perceived American bullying. “They’re coming off as aggressors,” he said. “That’s not our style.”