What Canada Gets Right and What We Risk Losing

Canada balances privilege and problems. This Canada Day reflection explores what still works, what’s fading, and why protecting our national character matters.

A Country of Contrasts and Community

Photo by Stephen H on Unsplash

Canada is a nation of contradictions; one where people grumble about paying for hospital parking but take solace in knowing they will never face bankruptcy due to medical bills. A place where school shootings remain a foreign tragedy, yet health care wait times are a persistent frustration. Where taxes feel overwhelming, yet social safety nets provide security. To be Canadian on Canada Day is to hold competing truths in balance, to recognize both our struggles and our blessings.

In a world that feels increasingly divided, it’s worth stepping back on Canada Day to reflect on what makes this country unique, what still works, and what we risk losing. This is not a blind celebration of Canada, but an honest look at what we get right, what we need to fix, and what it means to live in a nation that, despite its flaws, remains one of the most peaceful, prosperous, and admired countries on earth.

The Everyday Privileges We Forget

For most Canadians, safety is not something we think about daily. We walk through city streets at night without fear, let our children play outside, and rarely consider the possibility of gun violence. The idea of needing a firearm for self-defence feels foreign, even absurd, compared to our neighbours to the south.

Travelling abroad, we witness another privilege: the ability to move through the world unburdened by the baggage of empire or aggression. Canadians are welcomed as friends, known for politeness and humility. This global goodwill is no accident; it is the result of a long-standing commitment to diplomacy, peacekeeping, and respect for others.

Education is another quiet strength. With a relatively high literacy rate, Canada fosters an informed and engaged population. Our public schools, while imperfect, ensure that every child, regardless of wealth, has access to learning. In contrast to countries where education can be a financial burden, here it remains a public good.

Nature, too, defines our national character. From the vast forests of British Columbia to the rugged coastlines of Newfoundland, Canada’s wilderness is a source of pride. There is an understanding, however tenuous, that this beauty must be preserved, that our lakes, air, and land are not infinite resources to be squandered.

The Trade-Offs We Accept

Of course, Canada is not perfect. The economy is sluggish, housing is unaffordable, and healthcare, while universally accessible, often fails to meet expectations. Emergency rooms overflow, wait times stretch endlessly, and specialists are in short supply. For many, it feels like we are paying too much for too little.

Taxes are another point of contention. The more one earns, the more one pays, to the point where some feel discouraged from working harder. The balance between supporting the collective good and rewarding individual effort remains a challenge.

Despite these frustrations, Canada continues to function in a way that many countries do not. The social contract, though strained, still holds. The sense of fairness, of looking out for one another, has not yet disappeared.

A Nation in Flux: What We Risk Losing

Canada’s identity has long been defined by moderation; by a balance between individualism and social responsibility, between capitalism and community. But the world is changing, and so are we.

There is a creeping sense that Canada is following other nations down the path of division. Anti-intellectualism, once dismissed as a uniquely American problem, is gaining traction here. Cynicism towards institutions, government, media, and even education is on the rise. Economic anxiety is making people question whether the system still works.

If Canada is to remain a place where people trust one another, where differences do not breed hatred, and where fairness is more than an ideal, then we must actively protect what makes us different. It is not enough to assume that we will always be seen as kind, humble, or reasonable. These qualities must be reinforced through action, policy, civic engagement, and everyday interactions.

How We Keep Canada, Canada

Canada’s strengths, its safety, its fairness, and its global reputation are not guaranteed. They are the result of choices made over generations. If we want to preserve what makes this country worth loving, we must be willing to fight for it.

Investing in education ensures that the next generation remains informed and engaged. Protecting our natural spaces means choosing sustainability over short-term profit. Strengthening our healthcare system requires more than just funding; it demands structural change.

Above all, keeping Canada strong means resisting the forces that seek to divide us. It means valuing truth over easy answers, compromise over conflict, and collective well-being over individual gain.

If this resonates with you on Canada Day, consider supporting independent voices. Like, subscribe, refer a friend, or buy me a coffee to help bring more thoughtful discussions to the forefront. Canada’s future depends not just on its leaders but on all of us. Let’s make sure it remains a country worth believing in.

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