I'll leave the question of shame out of it, because I don't have the time or inclination to get into a prolonged knock'em-down, drag'em-out ... discussion. But the fact is that there once were a number of rich, vibrant, dynamic traditions of what could be called folksong/singing by anyone's definition. Everything from the singing of old ballads to the 'writing' and singing of timely, topical songs about local goings-on, all passed around and down orally/aurally. Now, there are still a few people around who were close enough to the last carriers of these traditions that they have, in the recesses of their minds, some of these songs learned directly from 'sources' - but the traditions are long dead, and for the most part, long-forgotten. Witness, on another thread, a poster asking what accent they should sing 'folk' in - since they are Canadian, so obviously their own speaking accent is inappropriate.

Even what's left of the Gaelic song tradition in Cape Breton has been passed into the keeping of revivalists (and more power to them).

There is a thriving commercial Pop music scene, and some of that involves what some people choose to call 'folk'. I'm of an age that I remember when no professional singers/musicians could achieve recognition in Canada before they had been successful in the States, the 'Big Names' I cited above being cases in point. The federal government had to legislate 'Canadian content' requirements to force radio stations to play music with some connection to Canadians in its creation. The more powerful radio stations fought against this tooth-and-nail, and predicted the end of civilization as we know it. In Windsor, ON, CKLW, which was considered the most influential radio station in North America, complied by using 'Canadian' recordings as occasion for ridicule and buffoonery. This was not long after the time that Ronnie Hawkins was assembling his back-up band that would go on to become The Band, and had to pass off his Canadian musicians as Americans in order to get bookings in Canada.

When I go to song/music sessions - in Canada - I rarely hear a song that cannot be traced, in short order, to an American, British or Irish publication ....