Canadian Unity : where do things stand?
This special edition of Canadian Issues examines the state of national unity at a moment when Canada is once again confronted by old questions in new forms.
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Browse research reports, journals, fact sheets and articles from ACS-Metropolis.
83 documents
The Supreme Court of Canada at 150
On November 18, 1875, the Supreme Court of Canada was ceremonially inaugurated with a banquet at Rideau Hall hosted by the governor general of the day, Lord Dufferin. He toasted the six newly sworn justices by remarking that the establishment of the high court of the land “marks another epoch in the history of the Dominion; it exhibits another proof and pledge of the stability of our Confederation, and of the solidifying process which has knit into a homogeneous and patriotic community, the inhabitants of what a few years ago were the scattered districts of Great Britain’s North American possessions.” The 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada in 2025 invites reflection on the impact of its most influential rulings, analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, and assessments of its overall role in shaping Canadian society and identity. The occasion also offers a timely opportunity to compare Canada’s top court with that of other countrie – particularly its nearest neighbour, where the U.S. Supreme Court is so deeply enmeshed in partisan politics – and to consider the inherent tensions between political and judicial power in Canada, along with the levels of trust Canadians have in the apex body of their justice system.
The State of Canadian Nationalism: English Canadians View Nationalism More Favorably than the Country’s Francophones
In 2015, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested his country could be considered the world's first post-national state. In Canadian political debates nationalism is usually thought about as something particular to Quebec. But nationalism remains alive and well in the country largely arising from the recent annexation threat and tariff wars from the US president Donald Trump. The recent rise in pride in being Canadian correlates with a positive view of nationalism as revealed in a survey conducted by Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies (March 1 and 2, 2025). And nationalism is seen more positively amongst Canada’s non-francophones than it is amongst Quebec framcophones. The survey further reveals that those seeing nationalism more favorably are far more likely to say they would defend their country against a military invasion. The survey was conducted by Leger for the Association for Canadian Studies with 1539 respondents in Canada over the period March 1 and 2, 2025.
The History of Refugees in Canada From Past to Present
Canada is widely described as a nation of immigrants owing to a long history of migration and the demographic importance of its immigrant population. In 2021, more than 8.3 million people, or almost one-quarter (23.0%) of the population, were, or had ever been, a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada
