What values helped Canadians build a prosperous society?

Canada's success as a free and prosperous nation is built on four core values: ordered liberty, enterprise, hard work, and fair play. According to the official Discover Canada guide, the country has welcomed generations of newcomers for 400 years, with settlers and immigrants contributing to the diversity and richness of the nation. This long tradition of pioneer effort created a society that is free, law-abiding and prosperous, built on a proud history and a strong identity that newcomers continue to enrich.

The principle of ordered liberty reflects Canada's character as a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy, and a federal state. Canadians are bound together by a shared commitment to the rule of law and to the institutions of parliamentary government. Liberty in Canada operates within a framework of laws and democratic institutions rather than as unrestricted freedom — citizens enjoy rights but also have responsibilities to obey laws and respect the rights and freedoms of others. This balance distinguishes Canadian liberty from chaos or licence.

Hard work and enterprise are exemplified by the generations of pioneers who built the country. The Discover Canada guide describes new citizens as becoming part of a great tradition that was built by generations of pioneers. Settlers cleared land, established farms, founded businesses, and constructed infrastructure across vast distances and difficult climates. Immigrants from around the world brought their skills, ambitions, and labour to the project of building Canada, contributing to its prosperity over four centuries of continuous effort and innovation.

Fair play and a sense of justice round out the four values. Canadians take pride in their identity and have made sacrifices to defend their way of life. The shared commitment to the rule of law and to mutual respect among diverse peoples — including newcomers, established Canadians, and Indigenous peoples — reflects the principle of fair dealing that has shaped the nation's institutions, courts, workplaces, and social fabric across generations.

These four values remain central to Canadian citizenship today. New citizens are welcomed into a continuing tradition — by coming to Canada and taking the step toward citizenship, you are helping to write the continuing story of Canada. The expectation is that newcomers will embrace these values: working hard, building enterprises, respecting Canadian laws (ordered liberty), and treating others fairly in daily life and at work.

The values also connect directly to citizenship responsibilities. Canadians must obey Canada's laws and respect the rights and freedoms of others — this is fair play in practice. Immigrants between the ages of 18 and 54 must learn about Canada's history, symbols, democratic institutions, geography, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, all of which are rooted in these foundational values that built the prosperous society newcomers join.