Most Canadians are familiar with the words of Canada’s national anthem, most often sung publicly at the beginning of sporting events, in particular, hockey games. It describes Canada as “the true north” and “our home and native land” — a northern homeland so “glorious and free” that it inspires “true patriot love,” a prayer that God will keep it free and a pledge on our part to “stand on guard” for its preservation.
But a poll published on Dec. 13 by Angus Reid puts the lie to much of what is claimed by the national anthem. To quote just a portion of that survey:
“The change in the proportion of Canadians now professing that they are not overly proud of being Canadian is staggering.… In 1985, 78 per cent said they were ‘very proud’ to be Canadian. This dropped to 52 per cent in 2016, and now another 18 points to 34 per cent in 2024.
“Women and men over the age of 54 are most likely to be proud of their nationality (71 per cent and 68 per cent respectively), while fewer than half of men under 35 (48 per cent) and women of the same age (41 per cent) say this.… And half (51 per cent) of ‘New Canadians,’ defined by the poll as those living in Canada for less than a decade, say that … ‘I am attached to Canada but only as long as it provides a good standard of living.’ ”
Contributing to this decline in proud attachment to Canada are the attitudes of a majority of the population of Quebec where only 37 per cent profess ”a deep attachment to and pride in Canada.” Should the federal Liberals continue their free fall in that province, the next federal election could well produce a separatist (Bloc Québécois) official Opposition in the federal Parliament, and the next provincial election in Quebec is likely to produce a separatist (Parti Québécois) provincial government — both parties devoid of any pride in or attachment to Canada and pledged to breaking it up.
Under these circumstance, two pressing questions emerge: Who will stand on guard for Canada? And what can be done to restore pride in, and a commitment to, this northern homeland to 40-million people?
In addressing these questions, I am reminded of a memorable incident in 1972 when Vancouver hockey fans booed Team Canada when it had played poorly against Russia in the fourth game of the famous 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series — a series that Canada ultimately won on Paul Henderson’s goal in the eighth game in Moscow.
After the Vancouver game, captain Phil Esposito expressed his profound disappointment in those Canadians who had so easily lost faith in Team Canada: “For the people who booed us, jeez, all of us guys are really disheartened and we’re disillusioned and we’re disappointed.… We cannot believe the bad press we’ve got, the booing we’ve gotten in our own building.”
But he then made clear the motivation of Team Canada, which would ultimately lead to its success in the series despite being booed at home: “Everyone one of us guys, 35 guys who came out to play for Team Canada, we did it because we love our country and not for any other reason.… And even though we play in the United States and we earn money in the United States, Canada is still our home and that’s the only reason we come.”
So moving forward to 2025, who are the Espositos who will stand on guard for Canada? Who will do so because we love Canada with a love that gives rather than takes and for no other reason? Who will express our profound disappointment in the boo birds in our schools and universities and face down those who trash Canada’s history, our heroes and their accomplishments? Who will challenge the “play for money” types — who will only support Canada if it pays them to do so — to “up their game” and become Canadians for better reasons?
The polls suggest that today’s strongest allies of Team Canada, and the strongest opponents of the anti-Canadians in our midst, are most likely to be found among those over 54 years of age, from among the 50 per cent of new Canadians who love Canada for more than its willingness to provide free health care and education, and from among those Canadians most strongly opposed to the current federal government. But whoever we are, and wherever we are most likely to be found, the time has come to “stand on guard” for Canada.
What can we do in practical terms? The most obvious step is to remove from office the Trudeau government, which has destroyed faith in Canada both at home and abroad. But the restoration of faith in Canada and its future also requires something at the personal level. Does it not require each individual and family to sit down and address the question: do we love this country or not? And if our affections for the country are non-existent or wavering, what can and will we do to undertake whatever changes are necessary to make Canada the homeland we truly want it to be?
As a visible sign of our commitment to Canada and its future, let us also do one simple and visible thing — fly the flag! Fly the flag that waves over the graves of those who gave their lives for this country in two world wars. Fly the flag at your place of business and at your apartment or house or wherever you call home. Fly the flag as a sign that we love this country and are willing to do whatever it takes to make it deserving of the pride and respect of all who make Canada their home.
National Post