We asked about Canada, you answered: Are Canadians proud their nationality? What's the most challenging thing about living in this country?

Yahoo

6 hours ago

This year, Canadians from coast-to-coast are marking Canada Day not just as a celebration, but a moment of reflection on what it means to be Canadian, the values we hold and the path we're forging as a nation.
On Canada's 158th birthday, the mood is anything but settled.
Uncertainty looms both at home and abroad. South of the border, U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war has strained relations with one of Canada's closest allies, triggering economic ripples and renewed questions about sovereignty — including inflammatory calls from some U.S. voices to make Canada America's '51st state.'
At home, Prime Minister Mark Carney's minority Liberal government is grappling with mounting economic pressures, regional divides and a shifting political landscape.
And yet, amid rising tensions, a new wave of patriotism is rising. Canadians are doubling down on local pride, reconsidering their relationship with the U.S., and reimagining the country's role on the global stage.
In the lead-up to Canada Day, we asked readers to capture how Canadians view their country, from national pride to global reputation and the challenges shaping our identity.
READ MORE: Canada Day 2025: Are you proud to be Canadian? What is your biggest issue living in this country? Vote and share your view of the country
A strong sense of national pride still runs deep, with over 70 per cent of poll respondents sharing they're proud to call this country home, according to a recent Yahoo News Canada survey.
The surge in Canadian pride is likely fuelled by rising tensions with our southern neighbour, as a shared external threat has sparked a renewed sense of national unity.
'The threats with which the Trump administration has moved forward have really made Canadians think about the value of their country,' said Jack Jedwab, president Association for Canadian Studies, in an interview with CTV News.
Soaring grocery bills, jam-packed ERs and the everyday cost of getting by were some of the key issues that kept Canadians talking and headlines buzzing this past year.
According to Statistics Canada, grocery prices rose by 3.3 per cent over the past year — outpacing the national inflation rate of 1.7 per cent. Staple items like fresh vegetables, dairy and baked goods saw some of the sharpest hikes, putting added pressure on households already feeling the pinch.
Meanwhile, long wait times in overcrowded emergency rooms sparked renewed calls for health-care reform, with recent data showing average ER wait times stretching well beyond provincial targets. As Canadians grapple with the rising cost of living, these everyday struggles have become defining issues in kitchen-table conversations and political debates.
When asked to rank the top issues affecting their lives, more than half poll respondents — 52 per cent — pointed to the rising cost of living as their number one concern, putting it well ahead of other national worries.
Ask anyone what comes to mind when they think of Canadians, and you'll likely hear a familiar list: kindness, politeness and a sense of fairness that runs deep. Whether it's holding the door for a stranger or saying 'sorry' even when it's not our fault, Canadians have a reputation for being humble, welcoming and community-minded.
With political tensions heating up south of the border, many Canadians are taking a closer look on what makes us uniquely Canadian and doubling down on the differences. From growing concern over misinformation and political extremism to a renewed appreciation for public health care and democratic institutions, events in the U.S. are sparking a kind of national soul-searching.
Among topics such as access to employment, active democracy, and LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms, 50 per cent of poll respondents say universal health care is the most important aspect of Canadian life to them.
Canada's reputation on the world stage is a mix of pride and challenge right now. Known for politeness, diversity, and strong values, Canadians still score high globally, however, recent tensions with the U.S. and shifting geopolitics have put that image to the test.
The bigger question is, how are Canadians viewing our own national identity?
In 2025, Canadians are redefining what it means to be Canadian, marked by a surge in Canadian flags flying in the streets and the rise of the 'buy Canadian' movement.
A recent survey by the Environics Institute revealed that 62 per cent of Canadians express strong pride in their national identity, marking a significant increase from 53 per cent in 2024.