Happy Canada Day to all my friends and family!
I was going through my emails on this lovely summer’s day in Toronto and spotted a new study from the Canada Goose clothing company that says 95 per cent of Canadians are proud of their country, which is great. The study also found that 64 per cent of Americans have considered moving north of the border, which I suppose means I was ahead of the curve by 38 years and two months, having landed on these shores via my Honda Accord hatchback on May 1, 1981, following a drive from my home in northern California.
Asked why they considered a move to the True North Strong and Free (and home, ahem, of the NBA champion Toronto Raptors), 63 per cent answered affordable healthcare, while 38 per cent said for a “more stable political climate.” Another 38 per cent it was for safety, while 36 per cent listed affordable education, 35 per cent said equal rights and 33 per cent said job opportunities, which appear to be booming here in Toronto.
Maybe the most interesting part of the study is the finding that 33 per cent of Canadians feel the country is moving in the right direction. That’s not a lot, but it’s more than double the 15 per cent of Americans who said that.
Asked why they’re proud of their country, 64% of Canadians replied “health care.” Half of those who took part in the survey said it’s our education system.
A full 44 per cent of American respondents said they Canadians are welcoming of diversity in all its forms, and 40 per cent of Canadians describe Canada as being community-oriented.
A patriotic Canadian on Canada Day in Ottawa, the nation’s capital. JIM BYERS PHOTO
As much as many folks might think of Americans as boastful, it turns out that we’re way ahead in that department. The study said 58 per cent of Canadians feel their country is the best place to live in the world, compared to just 30 per cent of Americans. And isn’t that interesting?
All respondents admit there are things to fix: Both Canadians and Americans believe it is important to improve the economy (39 per cent vs. 36 per cent), the distribution of wealth (33 per cent vs. 30 per cent) and the education system (32 per cent vs. the same 32 per cent) in their own countries.
Anyhow, Happy Canada Day. And happy almost Fourth of July to my American family and friends. I may not like the current president, but I still count myself lucky to be an American. And a proud Canadian.
