I’ve never understood the obsession some countries have with declaring themselves the greatest.

It’s as if the louder you say it, the more true it becomes. But real greatness doesn’t need a microphone. It doesn’t have to be shouted from rooftops or woven into political speeches. It isn’t measured by slogans, military displays, or economic rankings.

In my humble opinion, the only real test of a country’s standing in the world is this: Do people want to be part of it?

This isn’t about diminishing any country’s pride or dismissing anyone’s love for their homeland. I have nothing but admiration for nations that take pride in their history, culture, and people. And I say this with all the humility in the world, with deep love for Canada, and with an open heart toward every country that others call home: Canada does not need to be the best. It just needs to be a place where people feel they belong, where they can build, contribute, and thrive.

I’ve had the privilege of working with people from all over the world – entrepreneurs, students, community builders, leaders – each with their own dreams, ambitions, and challenges. And I’ve seen a pattern. When people want to be in your shoes, when they wish for your passport, when they see your country as a place where their future is brighter, their work is valued, and their children will have opportunities they couldn’t have imagined, that’s when you know a country is on the right path.

That’s why I’ve never cared for the idea of Canada striving to be the greatest country in the world. It doesn’t have to be. It just has to be a country where progress never stalls, where the focus is on opening doors instead of closing them, where people find both opportunity and belonging. A country doesn’t need to claim superiority to be a place worth choosing. A country does not need to makes its case relative to others. It simply needs to remain a place where people want to be.

I often find myself having conversations with new Canadians – people who, after years of waiting, have finally been handed that cherished dream of calling Canada their home. There’s always this moment, right after the excitement, when the reality sets in. And I tell them the same thing: Now you carry a responsibility. Citizenship isn’t just something you receive; it’s something you uphold. The strength of this country isn’t in its size, its economy, or its global standing – it’s in the choices its people make every day. And if each of us commits to making that choice a little better, a little kinder, a little wiser, then Canada will always be a country people aspire to be part of.

A nation that is truly secure in itself doesn’t need to outshine others – it simply stays true to its values and keeps refining them. That’s the difference between a country that is admired and one that is anxious about decline. When you spend your time proving your worth to others, you forget to build on your own foundation. That’s true for countries. It’s true for people.

These are just my reflections, shaped by experience and by a deep appreciation for the country I call home.

Canada doesn’t need to be the best.

It just needs to be a country people are proud to call theirs, today and for generations to come.

And if we get that part right, the rest takes care of itself.