Nanos Poll Finds 77% Back Canadian Unity as 53% Say Country Is Less United
Updated
Updated · The Globe and Mail · Jul 1
Nanos Poll Finds 77% Back Canadian Unity as 53% Say Country Is Less United
2 articles · Updated · The Globe and Mail · Jul 1
Summary
77% of Canadians say it is important for the country to remain united, but 53% believe Canada is less united than five years ago, according to a Nanos poll of 1,051 people conducted June 26-28.
54% ranked U.S. influence as the top threat to unity, followed by political polarization at 50% and the possibility of an Alberta separation referendum at 45%; about a third also cited regional economic gaps, federal policies and Western grievances.
The poll lands as Ottawa faces renewed strain with Washington over trade talks, with Prime Minister Mark Carney saying Tuesday he does not expect to sign a renewed USMCA soon.
Provincial fault lines remain uneven: 36% of Quebec respondents identified primarily with their province versus 28% with Canada, while 78% of Ontarians said they identify primarily as Canadian.
Quebec sovereignty registered as a national concern for only 18% of respondents, but 37% in Quebec cited it as a threat ahead of fall votes in Quebec and Alberta that could sharpen the unity debate.
With political polarization on the rise, can a leader’s move to the center truly heal Canada's divides?
Can a Canadian province legally secede without first getting consent from its First Nations?
National Unity in Crisis: 67% of Canadians Fear Decline as Alberta and Quebec Push Separation in 2026
Overview
In 2026, most Canadians strongly value national unity, with 85% saying it is important. However, there is a widespread and growing belief that unity is declining—67% think it has worsened over the past decade, and 58% expect it to get worse in the next five years. This paradox creates deep concern about the country’s cohesion. The situation is made worse by a lack of confidence in the federal government’s ability to foster unity, which further amplifies worries about national decline. Together, these factors highlight a complex and troubling state of national unity in Canada.