I am less certain as to why some Americans do it, but because Canada is a country of two founding people, French and English, with two official languages and the French wish to keep their culture officially distinct, then by language, if one speaks English, one automatically is lumped into what is called English Canadian.

As the rest of Canadians are in fact, not all WASPs, and Canada seems to retain less of a "melting pot" ethic than the US, there is a concerted effort here, to define ones heritage, if it is, in effect, not English. Even the Canadian Census now asks one to list ones ethnic background, even if your ancestors arrived here two or three hundred years ago.

Also, until fairly recently in this country, if one was not of the background of the two founding nations, in most instances, one was considered a second class citizen (a lengthy discourse regarding the Family Compact would be needed for further clarification). There has been a resurgence of pride in ones ethnic heritage, as people of backgrounds other than French and English have gained positions of prominence and power.

I think this pride heritage is based upon the knowledge of what our ancestors endured to settle and become citizens of this land and a means of honouring their courage and the hardships endured.

A concept that might be difficult to understand, if one is born in a country of relatively homogeneous ethnicity, whose language and traditions date back a thousand years or more, but not in a country that is relatively young such as Canada.

And all this without even touching on the resurgence of pride within people of First Nations heritage.