U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and speak about making Canada the 51st state have made Canadians indignant — very indignant.
Practically half of all respondents, 46 per cent, mentioned they strongly held that destructive notion.
“What surprised me is the intensity of the responses,” mentioned Sean Simpson, senior vice chairman of Ipsos Public Affairs.
The excessive variety of individuals voicing sturdy opinions, he mentioned, means “this isn’t some idea they have that they may or may not act on. This is something that they intend to follow through on. The feelings are visceral.”
Story continues beneath commercial
In response to the ballot, two-thirds of Canadians say they are going to be avoiding buying U.S.-made items transferring ahead, as a “Buy Canadian” motion grows in response to Trump’s financial threats.
An identical quantity mentioned they’d additionally keep away from journey to the U.S., with 45 per cent saying they felt strongly about their resolution.
1:43Planning a visit to the US? Many Canadians say ‘no thanks’ regardless of tariff pause
Simpson mentioned the anger towards the U.S. was strongest amongst respondents aged 55 and over who’ve a deeper historic understanding of the bilateral relationship, after watching previous U.S. presidents work properly with Canada.
Get breaking Nationwide information
“All of those conventions are laying in shambles at the feet of Donald Trump,” he mentioned. “And so older Canadians are saying, ‘My gosh, what is going on here?’”
He identified that older Canadians are additionally extra prone to be snowbirds that reside within the U.S. part-time, making their resolution to cancel journey south of the border notable.
Story continues beneath commercial
The ballot additionally spoke to the financial insecurity Trump’s threats have created amongst Canadians. Practically 60 per cent of these surveyed mentioned their very own private monetary state of affairs would undergo on account of Trump’s actions.
Sixty per cent mentioned they need the federal authorities to create a “major” subsidy program, just like those launched in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, to help staff affected by U.S. tariffs and retaliatory actions from Canada.
Federal officers introduced a course of for impacted companies to request “exceptional relief” earlier than Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reached a deal on Monday that paused the tariffs for 30 days. That pause means the reduction program, in addition to retaliatory tariffs, have been additionally placed on maintain.
Whereas attitudes towards the U.S. have been extra clear, Canadians seem cut up on whether or not political leaders at house will have the ability to “manage” Trump. Just below half responded positively, whereas 38 per cent mentioned they considerably or strongly disagree.
0:44Canada ‘not out of the woods yet’ regardless of pause on tariffs: Trudeau
That lack of resounding confidence displays not simply on Trudeau but additionally the Liberal management candidates vying to switch him — in addition to Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre, whose occasion nonetheless leads in election opinion polls, however by a narrowing margin.
Story continues beneath commercial
Simpson famous that help for political leaders is greater in Ontario, the place provincial Progressive Conservative Celebration Chief Doug Ford is working for re-election as premier. Ford has mentioned his snap election name was to safe a stronger mandate to guard the province from Trump’s tariff threats.
Extra on CanadaMore movies
Political help is lowest in western provinces like Alberta, which Simpson mentioned displays the continued destructive views there of the federal Liberal authorities.
“This is going to be a critical question for all of our leaders to establish themselves as the person who’s best able to deal with Donald Trump, if anybody can,” he mentioned.
