Front Burner

What is this new Canadian patriotism?

A look at what Canadian patriotism means as we face unprecedented political and economic threats.
A person holds a small flag
A person waves a small Canada flag during a protest of President Trump and the 25% tariffs applied to Canadian goods in Vancouver B.C., on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press)

Canadian pride reached a fever pitch after the NHL 4 Nations Cup last month and it hasn't showed any signs of slowing down since. Sales of the Canadian flags are up. American liquor and beer have been pulled off the shelves in stores throughout the country. "Elbows Up", a war cry and tribute to Gordie Howe's signature defensive move, has been trending on social media. 

But in a country that, according to polls, saw declining national pride for decades, what is our national identity? And how do you build a forward-looking and also inclusive, patriotic society? We wade through the good, the bad and the ugly of Canadian patriotism with David Moscrop, a freelance journalist and political scientist, and Jeet Heer, author and national affairs correspondent at The Nation.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

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