Commonly shared ethical and human values of Canadians
Shared values of Canadians Human rights 89% Gender equality 81% Respect for the law 80% Indigenous respect 68% Diversity 67% Bilingualism 55%
Euthanasia rights 80% LGBTQ acceptance 70% Multiculturalism policy 68% Secular society 60% Religious symbols at work 58%
Free market economy 52% Unrestricted abortion rights 51% Civil liberties over security 51% Trust in media 51%
Canadian values are the perceived commonly shared ethical and human values of Canadians .[ 3] The majority of Canadians believe they share specific values,[ 4] with a plurality identifying human rights , respect for the law and gender equality as collective principles.[ 5] [ 6] Canadians generally exhibit pride in equality before the law , fairness, social justice , freedom, and respect for others;[ 7] while often making personal decisions based on self interests rather than a collective Canadian identity .[ 8] Tolerance and sensitivity hold significant importance in Canada's multicultural society , as does politeness.[ 8] [ 6] Historian Ian MacKay associates Canadian values with egalitarianism , equalitarianism and peacefulness .[ 9]
Canadians typically tend to embrace liberal views on social and political issues.[ 10] [ 11] In Canada the idea of a "just society " is constitutionally protected ,[ 12] with government policies—such as publicly funded health care ; higher and more progressive taxation ; outlawing capital punishment ; strong efforts to eliminate poverty ; an emphasis on cultural diversity ; the legalization of same-sex marriage , pregnancy terminations , and euthanasia —being social indicators of the country's political and cultural values .[ 13] [ 14] [ 15] Canadians express pridefulness with the country's military peacekeeping and the national park system and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms .[ 16] [ 7]
Political scientist Denis Stairs connects values with Canadian nationalism , noting Canadians feel they hold special, virtuous values.[ 17] Canada promotes its domestically shared values through its foreign relations participating in multiple international organizations.[ 18] [ 19] Numerous scholars have tried to identify, measure and compare Canadian values with other countries, especially the United States.[ 20] [ 21] However, there are critics who say that such a task is practically impossible.[ 22]
Despite Canadians progressive views, ongoing societal challenges exist, including what has variously been described as neglect, indifference and human rights violations of marginalized groups; such as the treatment of Indigenous peoples , profiling of visible minority , poverty faced by those with disabilities , concerns with the treatment of migrants and refugees and the freedom of religion and language expression in Quebec society.[ 23] [ 24] [ 25]
^ "Agreement with social and democratic values in Canada" . Statistics Canada . 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2025-01-22 .
^ a b Cite error: The named reference w059
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ Douglas Baer, Edward Grabb, and William Johnston, "National character, regional culture, and the values of Canadians and Americans." Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie 30.1 (1993): 13-36.
^ "Highlights" . Statistics Canada . 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2025-03-02 .
^ "Perceptions of shared values in Canadian society among the immigrant population" . Statistics Canada . 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2025-01-19 .
^ a b "2016-10-24 Exploring Canadian values – Nanos Research" . Nanos Research . 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2025-01-20 .
^ a b "Exploring Canadian values" (PDF) . nanosresearch.com . Values Survey Summary - Survey by Nanos Research, October 2016. July 28, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2025 .
^ a b "Understanding Canadians" . Simon Fraser University . Retrieved 2025-01-19 .
^ McKay, Ian (2005). Rebels, Reds, Radicals: Rethinking Canada's Left History . Between The Lines. p. 181. ISBN 978-1-896357-97-3 .
^ Westhues, Anne; Wharf, Brian (2014). Canadian Social Policy: Issues and Perspectives . Wilfrid Laurier University Press. pp. 10– 11. ISBN 978-1-55458-409-3 .
^ Bickerton, James; Gagnon, Alain (2009). Canadian Politics . University of Toronto Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-4426-0121-5 .
^ LaSelva, S.V. (1996). The Moral Foundations of Canadian Federalism: Paradoxes, Achievements, and Tragedies of Nationhood . McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-7735-1422-5 .
^ Hollifield, James; Martin, Philip L.; Orrenius, Pia (2014). Controlling Immigration: A Global Perspective, Third Edition . Stanford University Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-8047-8735-2 .
^ Bricker, Darrell; Wright, John; Ipsos-Reid (Firm) (2005). What Canadians think- about almost- everything . Doubleday Canada. pp. 8– 20. ISBN 978-0-385-65985-7 .
^ "Examples of Charter-related cases - Canada's System of Justice" . Department of Justice - Government of Canada. 2018.
^ The Environics Institute (2010). "Focus Canada (Final Report)" (PDF) . Queen's University. p. 4 (PDF page 8). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2015 .
^ Stairs, Denis (2003). "Myths, Morals, and Reality in Canadian Foreign Policy". International Journal . 58 (2): 239– 256. doi :10.2307/40203840 . JSTOR 40203840 .
^ James, Patrick (2011-01-01). Religion, Identity, and Global Governance . Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 284. ISBN 978-1-4426-4066-5 .
^ "How Should Canada Promote Democracy and Good Governance Internationally?" . Canadian Global Affairs Institute . 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2025-03-18 .
^ Doug Baer, et al. "The values of Canadians and Americans: A critical analysis and reassessment Archived May 22, 2019, at the Wayback Machine ". Social Forces 68.3 (1990): 693–713.
^ Seymour Martin Lipset (1991). Continental Divide: The Values and Institutions of the United States and Canada . Psychology Press. pp. 42– 50. ISBN 978-0-415-90385-1 .
^ MacDonald, Neil (September 13, 2016). "A very short list of Canadian values: Neil Macdonald" . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016 .
^ "Canada" . United States Department of State . January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2025 .
^ "World Report 2024: Rights Trends in Canada" . Human Rights Watch . December 14, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2025 .
^ "Human rights in Canada" . Amnesty International . March 29, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2025 .