Canadian pride is on the rise amid tariff drama and these provinces are the most patriotic

Canadian pride has gotten a serious boost lately — and we have Donald Trump's tariff drama to thank for it.

As tensions between Canada and the U.S. simmer, a new poll from the Angus Reid Institute reveals a major uptick in national pride, with way more Canadians feeling emotionally connected to their country than they did just a few months ago.

A growing movement to buy Canadian and boycott U.S. products, travel and businesses has taken hold across the country — and it doesn't seem to be slowing down, even after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau secured a temporary reprieve from the tariffs on Monday.

Now, the country appears to be riding a wave of patriotic sentiment and interprovincial unity — but that doesn't mean everyone is breathing easy. The future of Canada-U.S. trade remains uncertain and people are paying close attention.

According to the Angus Reid Institute, the percentage of people who say they are "very proud" to be Canadian has jumped from 34% in December to 44% in February. Meanwhile, the number of people who report having a "deep emotional attachment to Canada" has also climbed 10 points from 49% to 59%.

And if you're wondering whether there are still people out there who think Canada should just throw in the towel and join the U.S., that number has actually shrunk — from 6% to 4% — because, well, Canadians aren't exactly feeling the neighbourly love right now.

But this spike in national pride isn't hitting every province the same way. The biggest surges in respondents with a "deep emotional attachment" to Canada are Quebec (+15 points), Atlantic Canada (+14) and B.C. (+13), while Alberta and Saskatchewan are seeing more modest increases, and Manitoba actually saw a slight decrease.

Despite seeing some of the biggest jumps in national pride and emotional attachment over the past two months, Quebec still has the lowest levels of both, with its February numbers trailing behind every other province.

Here's how each province compares in terms of residents reporting a "deep emotional attachment to Canada":

1. Atlantic Canada: 73%
2. B.C.: 66%
3. Ontario: 65%
4. Saskatchewan: 55%
5. Manitoba: 54%
6. Alberta: 53%
7. Quebec: 45%

And here's where things stand for those who say they are "very proud" or "proud" to be Canadian:

1. Atlantic Canada: 81%
2. B.C.: 74%
3. Ontario: 71%
4. Saskatchewan: 63%
5. Manitoba: 62%
6. Alberta: 61%
7. Quebec: 58%

So what's driving this newfound wave of patriotism? For one, Canadians are feeling fired up about reducing reliance on U.S. trade, and it seems to be reigniting a conversation about interprovincial cooperation.

A whopping 91% of respondents say Canada should work toward being less dependent on the U.S., while 95% agree that removing interprovincial trade barriers should be a top priority.

Meanwhile, only 59% said they agreed that "Canada should focus on repairing relations with the U.S. to restore the relationship we had prior to the tariffs," with the other 41% disagreeing.

The poll also reveals that this ongoing trade war has gripped the country's attention like few others: 89% of Canadians say they are closely following the tariff turmoil, with 56% tracking it "very closely." That level of engagement is comparable to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020, when 90% of Canadians reported following the emergence of the virus.

If the results of this latest poll are anything to go by, this could be more than just a temporary moment of national pride. Canadians are sending a clear message that we're ready to take charge of our country's future — with or without U.S. cooperation.

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