---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Canada is seen to some as a confederation…"
description: "\"Canada is seen to some as a confederation of shopping centres.\" — Pierre Trudeau"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/pierre-trudeau-3495_canada_canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederatio_2761337.png"
---

#  Canada is seen to some as a confederation of shopping…

![“Canada is seen to some as a confederation of shopping centres.” quote by Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/pierre-trudeau-3495_canada_canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederatio_2761337.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/pierre-trudeau-3495_canada_canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederatio_2761337.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/pierre-trudeau-3495_canada_canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederatio_2761337.png)

> “Canada is seen to some as a confederation of shopping centres.”

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Canada is sometimes viewed as a collection of consumer‑oriented regions rather than a unified nation.

**In simple terms:** Canada can seem like many shopping malls.

Key Takeaway

Recognize cultural depth beyond commerce.

Themes

national identity consumerism perception

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

political inspirational

When to use this quote

- travel
- policy discussion
- educational curricula

Key Concepts

cultural criticism economic geography

Questions to Reflect On

- How does consumer culture shape national identity?
- What aspects of Canada defy this stereotype?

A Different Perspective

Such a view overlooks Indigenous cultures and regional diversity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/) [Canada Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada-seen-3172930/) [Centre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centre/) [Confederation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederation/) [Confederation Shopping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederation-shopping-3172929/) [Seen Confederation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen-confederation-3172931/) [Shopping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shopping/) [Shopping Centres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shopping-centres-1776503/)

## Related quotes

> [I doubt that Canada will be seen forever on the international stage as Mr/s Boring Niceperson, as has been the habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-doubt-that-canada-will-be-seen-forever-on-the-international-stage/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [Look for cars where people might not look, like shopping centres or notice boards as you can find some real gems that other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edd-china/look-for-cars-where-people-might-not-look-like-shopping-centres-or/)

[Edd China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edd-china/)

> [I hate people that walk slowly in front of you in shopping centres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-people-that-walk-slowly-in-front-of-you-in-shopping-centres/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I can walk all day in malls, shopping centres, high streets - I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/i-can-walk-all-day-in-malls-shopping-centres-high-streets-i-love-it/)

[Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/)

> [The shopping centres that have come up in Noida are amazing. There are amusement parks and other good family outing spots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/badshah/the-shopping-centres-that-have-come-up-in-noida-are-amazing-there-are/)

[Badshah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/badshah/)

> [“culminating in one of those formless red brick shopping centres which artfully combines a complete lack of aesthetic quality with a total disregard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/culminating-in-one-of-those-formless-red-brick-shopping-centres-which/)

[Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/)

> [We are in the extreme centre, the radical middle. That is our position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/we-are-in-the-extreme-centre-the-radical-middle-that-is-our-position/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [The Supreme Court, in 2005, emphasized and contrasted the great power of Congress under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate commerce versus much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ann-radnofsky/the-supreme-court-in-2005-emphasized-and-contrasted-the-great-power/)

[Barbara Ann Radnofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ann-radnofsky/)

> [Brandon McCaw did a question about Federalism is a politicial system in which two or more distinct levels of government share and except power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mccaw/brandon-mccaw-did-a-question-about-federalism-is-a-politicial-system/)

[Brandon Mccaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mccaw/)

> [I have made it quite clear that a unified Ireland was one solution that is out. A second solution was a confederation of two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-have-made-it-quite-clear-that-a-unified-ireland-was-one-solution/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [Confederation is only yet in the gristle, and it will require five years more before it hardens into bone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-macdonald/confederation-is-only-yet-in-the-gristle-and-it-will-require-five/)

[John A. Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-macdonald/)

> [I think in Atlantic Canada, because of what happened in the decades following Confederation, there is a culture of defeat that we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-think-in-atlantic-canada-because-of-what-happened-in-the-decades/)

[Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/)

> [The power of the people pervading the proposed system, together with the strong confederation of the states, will form an adequate security against every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickinson/the-power-of-the-people-pervading-the-proposed-system-together-with/)

[John Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickinson/)

> [I am challenging Ezer Weizman to accept the democratic state where both of us can live in this democratic state. What confederation? No. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/i-am-challenging-ezer-weizman-to-accept-the-democratic-state-where/)

[Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/)

> [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/)

[Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/)

## More by Pierre Trudeau

> [Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/liberalism-is-the-philosophy-for-our-time-because-it-does-not-try-to/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [Obviously, the state's responsibility should be to legislate rules for a well-ordered society. It has no right or duty to creep into the bedrooms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/obviously-the-state-s-responsibility-should-be-to-legislate-rules-for/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [In specific terms I don't think I could make any suggestions, but in general terms I believe that it is because Canadians have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/in-specific-terms-i-don-t-think-i-could-make-any-suggestions-but-in/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [I think that religions must seek peace and love and therefore be pacifist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-think-that-religions-must-seek-peace-and-love-and-therefore-be/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [Freedom can flow from order. That is not to say that freedom always flows from order because you can have a totalitarian order and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/freedom-can-flow-from-order-that-is-not-to-say-that-freedom-always/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [Every time I have a political rally I meet some people who say, "I need a job."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/every-time-i-have-a-political-rally-i-meet-some-people-who-say-i-need/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [I'm far from believing that we've solved the problem of violence in the 20th century and that's why I'm not discouraged that we still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-m-far-from-believing-that-we-ve-solved-the-problem-of-violence-in/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [The Jesuits were good educators, exceptional teachers. In an era and in a society where freedom of speech was not held in high regard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/the-jesuits-were-good-educators-exceptional-teachers-in-an-era-and-in/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [Americans should never underestimate the constant pressure on Canada which the mere presence of the United States has produced. We're different people from you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/americans-should-never-underestimate-the-constant-pressure-on-canada/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [I must say that "Give Peace a Chance" has always seemed to me to be sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-must-say-that-give-peace-a-chance-has-always-seemed-to-me-to-be/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. What's done in private between adults doesn't concern the Criminal Code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/there-s-no-place-for-the-state-in-the-bedrooms-of-the-nation-what-s/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [I think all of us, politicians and churchmen, should do our utmost to change the society so that there would be no need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-think-all-of-us-politicians-and-churchmen-should-do-our-utmost-to/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [The Canadian community must invest, for the defence and better appreciation of the French language, as much time, energy, and money as are required…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/the-canadian-community-must-invest-for-the-defence-and-better/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [Perhaps the rediscovery of our humanity, and the potential of the human spirit which we have read about in legends of older civilizations, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/perhaps-the-rediscovery-of-our-humanity-and-the-potential-of-the/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

[Explore all 129 Pierre Trudeau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

## More Canada quotes

> [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

> [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [Our country has shown a lack of will to resist its own disintegration .. . Canada is practically the only country left in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/our-country-has-shown-a-lack-of-will-to-resist-its-own-disintegration/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [“Not very long ago I was driving with my husband on the back roads of Grey County, which is to the north and east…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/not-very-long-ago-i-was-driving-with-my-husband-on-the-back-roads-of/)

[Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/)

> [Purchasing items made in the U.S. for our stores here or Canadian goods for our stores in Canada makes good business sense because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/purchasing-items-made-in-the-u-s-for-our-stores-here-or-canadian/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/)

[Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/)

> [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/)

[Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/)

> [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/)

[Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/)

> [“To be honest, it's a real relief to go to Canada where I can be among my relatives. Just the kind of break I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-puddicombe/to-be-honest-it-s-a-real-relief-to-go-to-canada-where-i-can-be-among/)

[Ken Puddicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-puddicombe/)

> [When I left Canada for Bayern, people said, 'You'll never make it. You'll be back in a year.' I stopped going to school because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/when-i-left-canada-for-bayern-people-said-you-ll-never-make-it-you-ll/)

[Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/)

> [LEGO has announced that they are shutting down their U.S. factory and moving it to Canada. LEGO employees say it's their fault because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/lego-has-announced-that-they-are-shutting-down-their-u-s-factory-and/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [It's so Canada. On some level, you laugh, but on another level, it's just depressing. We pride ourselves: We're not like the bad old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-backhouse/it-s-so-canada-on-some-level-you-laugh-but-on-another-level-it-s-just/)

[Constance Backhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-backhouse/)

> [The movement across Canada to fight toxic chemicals is a women's movement. It's a concern about health; it's very intimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/the-movement-across-canada-to-fight-toxic-chemicals-is-a-women-s/)

[Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/)

> [I grew up working in Canada so everything was low budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-grew-up-working-in-canada-so-everything-was-low-budget/)

[Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/)

[Browse all 1,873 Canada quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Canada is seen to some as a confederation of shopping centres.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pierre Trudeau"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederation-of-shopping-centres/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Canada"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederation-of-shopping-centres/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/pierre-trudeau-3495_canada_canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederatio_2761337.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/pierre-trudeau-3495_canada_canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederatio_2761337.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/pierre-trudeau-3495_canada_canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederatio_2761337.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Canada is seen to some as a confederation of shopping centres.” — Pierre Trudeau",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Pierre Trudeau",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Canada is seen to some as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederation-of-shopping-centres/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-seen-to-some-as-a-confederation-of-shopping-centres/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
