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In 2009, the Conservative government announced that its new citizenship guide, Discover Canada, would replace the previous guide that had been in place since 1995. Using a discourse analysis, this article assesses the nation-building strategies employed by the Conservative government in this new guide. The central argument is that Discover Canada advances a version of the Canadian nation tied to socially and economically conservative values as well as law and order issues. This neo-conservative national identity has important implications for national belonging and membership not only for prospective citizens to Canada, but also for Canada's historical national minorities, including Quebec and Aboriginal peoples. En 2009, le gouvernement conservateur a annoncé son nouveau guide de la citoyenneté. Découvrir le Canada, lequel remplacerait le précédent guide en place depuis 1995. En utilisant une analyse du discours, cette étude évalue les stratégies de renforcement de la nation employées par le gouvernement conservateur dans ce nouveau guide. L'argument central est que Découvrir le Canada est une version de la nation canadienne attachée à des valeurs socialement et économiquement conservatrices ainsi que des questions d'ordre public. Cette identité nationale néo-conservatrice a des implications impor-tantes pour l'appartenance nationale et l'adhésion non seulement pour les citoyens éventuels au Canada, mais aussi pour les minorités nationales historiques du Canada, y compris les peuples québécois et autochtones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article compares national identities in Canada and the U.S., using survey data from 1995 and 2004. According to the author, Canadians' national identities outside Quebec are becoming more similar to those of Americans. It is suggested that Canadian national identity is being strengthened and redefined, rather than weakened by the influence of American culture as is sometimes thought. Topics discussed include cultural and economic integration across the North American continent, the idea of Americanization, and essentialism in national identity.

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]