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Canadians don’t need to worry about identity politics

There is nothing divisive about the expression of different identities when there is room for them to overlap.

Free trade wasn’t just Mulroney’s key achievement – it is one of the most dramatic public opinion turnarounds in Canada’s history

Over time, more and more Canadians have reached the conclusion that we can have more trade with the Americans without becoming more like them.

The mood was bleak in 2023, but fret not - we’ve been here before

Canadians will find some way to get through this with their penchants for tolerance, equality and inclusion intact
July 4, 2023

Canada is sorry – a lot. We shouldn’t apologize for that

Time will tell whether a national willingness to apologize for the past is merely a cultural quirk, or a resource we can draw on to create a better future.

'Notwithstanding' support for the Charter of Rights, there's work to do

A significant number of Canadians are unsure as to whether governments or the courts should have the final say in Charter cases

One issue on which Canadians aren't polarized — the U.S.

Before we conclude that our politics is more polarized than ever, let’s remember it is possible to overcome even long-standing divisions and find common ground
January 18, 2023

The good and bad news from a public opinion researcher

Solid support for refugees has developed over the years. On fossil fuels, Alberta’s divisions can’t be ignored. And young Canadians are in bad shape.
January 17, 2023

The CPC needs to get back to bilingualism

To make real gains in French-speaking areas of the country, it is the party’s personality that will count

The differences between Canada and the U.S. remain significant

A new survey from the Environics Institute confirms Canadian Conservatives have bigger differences with U.S. Republicans than Canadian Liberals

Surveys show Canadian are less polarized and angry than Americans

The gap today between Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. is about twice as wide as that in Canada between Conservatives and Liberals
April 22, 2022

Are Canadians finally at peace with their Constitution?

A reflection on the eve of the 40th anniversary of patriation and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
January 2, 2022

We’re witnessing the continuing cultural divergence of Canada and the United States

The centre of gravity in each of our cultures is in a radically different place, and each is moving along a different trajectory
October 7, 2021

50 years of multiculturalism

Michael Adams, president of the Environics Institute, says most Canadians view multiculturalism as an important symbol of what we aspire to as a society

Private sponsorship is much more than a feel-good project

As we mark World Refugee Day, it is important to recognize that many Canadians have stepped up to sponsor refugees, and many more are keen to do so.
March 18, 2021

Can Canada engage in a significant constitutional change that leaves us more united?

We need to go beyond the observation that the monarchy seems outdated, and prepare ourselves for the hard work of finding something that works better for us.

Changing social norms is the key to addressing racism

Social norms exert a powerful influence on how people interact with others, and deserve greater attention in addressing systemic racism
January 4, 2021

COVID-19 changed everything, except Canada’s values of inclusiveness

While populists around the world have used the pandemic’s many upheavals to sow fears against newcomers, Canada might never have been more sure of its broadly welcoming spirit than now