The Canada Project: 24 Facts for Canada 150
A Two-Four of Facts for Canada 150
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, we partnered with Abacus Data to ask 1,500 Canadians what they think about their country. Here are 24 of the most scintillating responses, on everything from the military to marriage to Michael Bublé.
A Reputation to Uphold
Canada to the rest of the world: You're right, we are pretty darn nice
Heavy Lies the Crown
A slim majority favours retaining Canada’s royal ties
56%
Percentage of Canadians who say Canada should remain a monarchy after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Canada’s Military Might
Canadians are generally in favour of an expanded military
A Faithful Nation
Religious conviction remains strong across the country
66%
Percentage of Canadians who believe in God—with even higher results among immigrants and older generations.
Poutine vs. Maple Syrup
There’s a deep generational divide over Canada’s national cuisine
Our Hearts Will Go On
The Quebec superstar has fans across the country
28%
Percentage of Canadians who say Celine Dion is their favourite female musical performer.
A Shot in the Arm
The overwhelming majority of Canadians support vaccines
A Nation Divided
Two teams are nearly tied for the loyalty of fans. But...
27%
Percentage of Canadians who say the Toronto Maple Leafs are their favourite Canadian hockey squad—besting the Montreal Canadiens by one point.
The Times Are Changing
Many Canadians have become more open to the idea of assisted dying
Change We Can Believe In
Hipsters scoff, but with more than 24 million albums sold and a string of number-one hits, Nickelback has the last laugh
69%
Percentage of Canadians who say Nickelback is a “Canadian Treasure.”
Who Will Pay?
If it will help tackle climate change, some Canadians are willing to pay. Others aren't.
We’d Rather Stay Home
The new U.S. President isn't a big tourism draw for Canadians
44%
Percentage of Canadians who say they’re less likely to visit the United States after Donald Trump’s election.
Take a Name
In one respect, Canadians still believe in marriage traditions
Ryan vs. Ryan
Sorry Ryan Gosling, Canada has chosen
58%
Percentage of Canadians who say Reynolds is their preferred Canadian Celebrity Ryan
Big Tippers
When it comes to tipping for good service, some provinces dig deeper than others
Let the Robot Drive
Most Canadians would go for a ride in a driverless car
62%
Percentage of Canadians who would “definitely” or “probably” accept if offered a ride in a driverless car.
Cash or Credit?
Millennials are more into using cash than their grandparents
Overly Social Media
When it comes to parenting, keep some things to yourself
71%
Percentage of Canadians who say parents overshare about their kids on Facebook.
Are you a feminist?
A majority of both men and women in Canada say “No”
Bublé With Anticipation
Millennials prefer Drake, but the nation as the whole has a different favourite
30%
Percentage of Canadians who say Michael Bublé is their favourite male musical performer.
Birds and Bees
Canadians believe children need the facts of life before they're teenagers
Rocky Mountain High
Given a choice of living in any province, most of us would choose this one
36%
Percentage of Canadians who say they wish they could live permanently in British Columbia.
Ballot Question
Voter turnout is trending gradually lower, but we still think voting is important
Ahead By a Century
Millennials and Gen X agree on the top Canadian band
30%
Percentage of Canadian Millennials & Gen-Xers who agree The Tragically Hip are Canada’s most iconic band. (40% of Boomers named The Guess Who.)
The survey was conducted online by Abacus Data with 1,515 Canadians aged 18 and over from April 4 to 5, 2017. A random sample of panelists was invited to complete the survey from a large representative panel of over 500,000 Canadians.
The Marketing Research and Intelligence Association policy limits statements about margins of sampling error for most online surveys. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of 1,515 is +/- 2.6%, 19 times out of 20.
The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada's population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.