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Public opinion on national identity in Canada is changing. Using data from the International Social Science Programme, this essay presents evidence that most Canadians have a strong national identity rooted in universal conceptions that everyone can share, such as citizenship. Data also show, however, that a growing number of Canadians define their national identity narrowly, such as through birthplace and religion. Drawing on research from social psychology, the essay suggests that theories of Canadian identity need to take into account the fact that many Canadians have strong national identities that do hOt fit cleanly into the civic/ethnic theoretical dichotomy. L'opinion publique sur l'identite nationale au Canada evolue. A l'aide de donnees tirees du programme international des sciences sociales (ISSP), cet article presente des preuves que la plupart des Canadiens possedent une identite nationale solide enracinee dans des concepts universels que tout le monde peut partager, comme la citoyennete. Toutefois, ces donnees montrent aussi qu'un nombre croissant de Canadiens definissent leur identite nationale de facon etroite, comme par le lieu de naissance et la religion. En s'inspirant de recherches de psychologie sociale, l'article suggere que les theories sur l'identite canadienne devraient tenir compte du fait que beaucoup de Canadiens ont une forte identite nationale qui ne s'integre pas facilement dans la dichotomie theorique civique/ethnique.

Public opinion on national identity in Canada is changing. Using data from the International Social Science Programme, this essay presents evidence that most Canadians have a strong national identity rooted in universal conceptions that everyone can share, such as citizenship. Data also show, however, that a growing number of Canadians define their national identity narrowly, such as through birthplace and religion. Drawing on research from social psychology, the essay suggests that theories of Canadian identity need to take into account the fact that many Canadians have strong national identities that do not fit cleanly into the civic/ethnic theoretical dichotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]