Canada, similar to many other western countries, is facing many challenges of which we are all too familiar. There are many varied voices clamoring for recognition in the cacophony surrounding us. There is one point of reference, however, for which there is a consensus in Canada – we are not a happy people. This is confirmed by the 2026 Global Happiness rankings according to the World Happiness Report from the Wellbeing Research Center at the University of Oxford. According to this report, Canada ranked 25th in “happiness” among the 30 countries surveyed. Women are among Canada’s unhappiest, and as a result will likely press for changes needed to build a happier country.
First, however, to understand why Canadians are so unhappy today, we should examine what sustained the happiness level of past generations despite their hardships. Previous generations were no strangers to them. The suffering and hardships of the Great War, now called World War I, did not suffocate the Canadian Spirit. During the years of the Great Depression, families went hungry, while swirling clouds of topsoil dust engulfed the Prairies—Canada’s former breadbasket. Men rode the rails across the country in search of work. The 1940s brought the horrors of the Second World War, as husbands and sons went overseas to fight the scourge of Nazism, but many never returned. At home, Canadians endured severe food and gasoline rationing. In addition, they lived with daily anxiety as they awaited news of the war. The Cold War in the 1940s, 1950s and1960s brought further fears, including Russia’s attempt to place nuclear missiles in Cuba, facing North America. Concerns about communist infiltration of Canadian institutions added to the anxiety of the global struggle between communism and democracy. Canada even had a communist Member of Parliament, Fred Rose, from Montreal. Yet through these trials, Canadians drew strength from their faith and shared values which fostered their communities and promoted common goals allowing for confidence in the future.
It was faith and shared values that gave Canadians this sense of security, resolve and lasting happiness. They lived in a world where daily life offered more opportunities for connection. The milkman delivered bottles of fresh milk to the doorstep each morning. A woman buying meat for dinner visited her butcher, chose what she wanted and could request a particular cut. This personal exchange has been removed from today’s services. Selecting prepackaged, plastic covered groceries is the rule today. Individuals used to greet one another on the street and stop to chat, rather than passing each other by with their eyes fixed on their phones. Families were closely knit, with clearly defined roles and an emphasis on communication and intimacy rather than screen time. People made time to volunteer with community organizations and help those less fortunate. Today, many organizations struggle to find volunteers, because men and women juggle paid work and family responsibilities. The state has encroached on what was once private/local undertakings and has taken over many services once provided by those in their communities and especially by churches — services for example, for older people, the disabled and troubled youth. People also dressed more formally, reflecting self-respect as well as consideration for others. Together, these habits reflected and fostered a community spirit rooted in shared values, hope and confidence in the future — a spirit that is far less evident today. People once created their own entertainment, organizing local choirs, inviting friends into their homes frequently. Today, having friends over for dinner is too much effort. Staying home alone with a screen is easier for them. Even when individuals make the effort to entertain today, their hospitality is frequently not returned. There is a lack of willingness to take an interest in others, share experiences and nurture relationships. Faith formerly played a vital role, a role that has diminished in today’s secularized society largely caused by increasingly secularized churches. Faith offered an enduring anchor, especially in these difficult times, providing a sense of security and peace.
As noted above, in today’s Canada, women are particularly unhappy. They are carrying a heavy burden of working in the paid workforce but also carrying the responsibility of managing the home and family. Records show that female happiness and health, by all measures, has declined markedly from past generations. According to a Gallup poll February 2023 to October 2024 of a survey of 1,000 women, working fulltime or part time, there has been record levels of stress, worry and burnout among women. This survey also found that working mothers, when compared to working fathers, are nearly twice as likely to consider reducing their work hours or leaving the job altogether because of childcare issues. Regardless of the method of measurement, the findings remain the same. Women today are experiencing burnout, anxiety, depression, fearfulness, sadness, and loneliness.
Although feminists often emphasize men’s dominance in society, women actually exert an equally powerful influence. Women spend the money and shape moral values and family life. Mothers teach their children right from wrong, guide their behaviour and pass on the family’s faith and traditions. Women’s conversations with one another about feelings, problems and hopes strengthen relationships and sustain communities. On the other hand, men’s conversations customarily focus on sports, politics or work. Their role is more likely to take practical forms, such as earning a sustainable income, changing tires, or fixing taps. These patterns are not universal, but they illustrate the different ways people contribute to family and community life. Women’s role in nurturing relationships and passing on values is central to the social renewal envisioned here, which is not to recreate the past, but rather to reclaim the positive aspects of the past in order to create a better society.
To create a better society, it is necessary that a priority be given to providing women with some assistance in dealing with the pressure of their dual roles. For example, an excellent family program has been developed by Finland. According to this program, maternity benefits commence during the last four months of pregnancy and continue to 3 months after birth. After this time parental leave benefits kick in for 6 additional months. When the parental leave expires the parents are given the option of returning to work or participating in a homecare plan under which benefits are paid directly to parents, grandparents or private daycare providers until the child reaches school age. Most parents in Finland participate in this program rather than returning to work. This program may be one explanation why Finland ranks first in the 2026 World Happiness Report conducted at the University of Oxford. Canada should consider adopting this and other profamily policies to create a happier society.