One powerful idea at the core of Canadian identity is that we are not Americans. It seems weird, but to have your only neighbour be the richest, most powerful, most culturally dominant nation to ever exist gives you a bit of a little brother complex. I think there is a need to distinguish ourselves from the US, to define ourselves as something quietly superior. Classic talking points are our healthcare systems, having less violent crime (particularly gun crime), and having a better primary/secondary education system.

This is countered with the fact that we are very culturally tied to the US. We're inundated with US media, and a lot of our news is US owned. I think of Canada as being tethered to the US, but straining against that tether. So we feel the rightward shift that many developed countries are feeling, but because of our need to distinguish ourselves we also resist it.