Fewer than half of Canadians feel 'deep emotional attachment' to Canada, poll finds

Fewer than half of all Canadians feel a “deep emotional attachment” to Canada, according to a new survey.

The Angus Reid Institute’s latest research highlights a “challenge for national unity,” the think tank said.

Just 49 per cent of Canadians told the pollster they had a strong emotional attachment to their country, down 13 points compared with 2006.

In 1991, meanwhile, it was even higher, at 65 per cent.

The think tank also found that the proportion of Canadians saying they are either “proud” or “very proud” of their nationality has “dropped precipitously” over the last eight years, from 79 per cent to 58 per cent.

Only 34 per cent said they feel “very proud,” down from 78 per cent in 1985.

The study also found that:

• Income correlates with pride, with those earning less than $25,000 a year the least proud and those earning over $200,000 the most proud

• Quebecers were the least proud and least likely to say they had a “deep emotional attachment” to Canada

• Maritimers were the most proud and most attached to Canada

• In BC, 62 per cent said they were proud to be Canadian and 53 per cent said they had a deep attachment to Canada

• People aged 54 and over were most likely to be proud of Canada

• A majority of immigrants who have been in Canada less than a decade said their attachment to the country “hinges more on their being provided a good quality of living”

• Liberal voters were most likely to say they love Canada

The poll also looked at the proportion of Canadians who would like Canada to be annexed by the United States, finding it to be very small (6 per cent).

That question comes as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to refer to Canada as a potential “51st state.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and premiers across the country have also been attempting to marshal a “Team Canada” spirit after Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods entering the US.

Trudeau said earlier this week that the tariff would be “absolutely devastating” and inflict “horrific losses” on the country’s economy.

But he added: “We can do this. Because when crises happen, when we’re challenged as a country, we step up. We’ve shown it on the battlefields of Europe in two world wars."

Angus Reid’s poll was conducted online between Nov. 29 and Dec. 5.

The sample consisted of 4,004 Canadian adults.

To see the full dataset, head here.