State of the Nations: Canadians proud of country, but see ‘Trump-style politics’ as a risk
The looming American election has become a source of anxiety on both sides of the border, but Canadians’ concerns about the state of domestic democracy are growing, too.
New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians, and especially past Conservative voters, worried that key democratic pillars are weakening in Canada. Canadians are more likely to believe elections are becoming less free and fair, the rule of law is being applied less equitably and the power is less invested in the common people than to see those principles strengthening. On all three, those who voted for the Conservative party in 2021 are much more critical than other past voters, whose concerns are evident but perhaps less grave.
And while Canadians have their criticisms of their country, some solace may be found in cross-border perspectives.
Two-thirds of Canadians (67%) say they are proud to live in Canada, compared to 54 per cent who say this in the U.S. Meantime, twice as many residents north of the border say they believe it to be a caring society (59%) as south (30%).
Domestically, the federal government, and its current path, appears to be the most polarizing element of the country at the moment. Half (48%) say Canada does not have a good system of government and as many (47%) believe the country is on the wrong track.
In this perceived dearth of quality government, an issue that extends to the provinces, concerns over the potential for “Trump-style politics” are palpable. Just 13 per cent of Canadians say that this approach – driven by bombastic populist messaging, disregard for institutions and legal norms, and attacks on “the deep state” – is something to which Canada is immune. Threequarters (75%) say that the Trump trend – which has inspired imitators around the globe – is something that can happen in Canada.
More Key Findings:
• Two-in-five (38%) in Alberta and three-in-ten (29%) in Saskatchewan say Canada is a country whose values align with their own, the two lowest proportions in the country. More than half (53%) in Quebec say the same, leading all provinces.
• Canadians are less likely to view Canada as a prosperous country (62% to 54%) and a positive player in world affairs (50% to 44%) than they were in 2022.
• Amid the ninth year of Liberal government, past CPC voters are much less likely to say they are proud to live in Canada (49%) than past Liberal (89%) or NDP (70%) voters. Just one-ineight (13%) 2021 Conservatives see the country as on the right track.
• Two-thirds (65%) of 2021 Liberal voters believe the country is heading in the right direction, the only group of past voters who say so at a majority level.
The Swift Current Museum’s monthly Lunch & Learn presentations cover a variety of topics. The first one for the new year on Jan. 17 had a mental health and wellness focus. Health and life coach Jade Mahon made a presentation about using mindfulness to develop a sense of calm amidst the chaos and stress of everyday life. She shared some national statistics to highlight the extent to which Canadians are struggling with their mental health and emotional well-being. The number of people who feel stressed on a regular basis almost doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic, half of Canadians will have faced some form of mental health issue by the time they turn 40, over 4,500 people die by suicide every year and lack of mental health costs the Canadian economy about $50 billion per year. She shared several mindfulness tools during the workshop-style format of her presentation, which can be used to be more aware of thoughts and can be applied daily to develop new habits to be more present in the moment. She noted it takes effort to develop mental health, but it is worthwhile. Lunch & Learn at the Swift Current Museum takes place on the third Wednesday of each month at noon. There is a lunch fee, but the talk is free.