A new Nanos Research poll commissioned by The Globe and Mail shows that a clear majority of Canadians endorse Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to abandon trade negotiations with the United States and to impose matching countertariffs on American goods. Eighty‑five percent of respondents said they support or somewhat support the walk‑away, while eighty percent back the planned dollar‑for‑dollar retaliation set to begin on Tuesday. The survey also reveals that many Canadians are prepared to absorb higher prices for everyday items as part of the country’s response.
Public Support for Retaliatory Measures
The poll, conducted online from 30 August to 2 September with 1,037 participants, found that roughly seven in ten Canadians are willing or somewhat willing to pay more for products such as groceries, clothing and electronics if it means standing firm against U.S. tariff threats. Nik Nanos, chief data scientist at Nanos Research, characterised the mood as “about as hot as it got when Donald Trump first said that Canada should be the 51st state.” He warned that the near‑consensus could fade once the economic costs of the dispute become more apparent, noting that “that’s the risk for the Carney administration.”
Regional Differences and Prairie Skepticism
While overall backing is strong, the Prairie provinces show a more muted reaction. Only about 17 percent of respondents from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba said they support rejecting the possible trade deal, and roughly 19 percent oppose the countertariff plan. Nanos explained that residents in the region tend to value the bilateral relationship highly, citing the importance of cross‑border trade and energy ties. Nevertheless, even in the Prairies nearly 77 percent expressed some level of rejection toward the proposed U.S.–Canada agreement.
Economic Concerns and Future Outlook
About two‑thirds of those polled said they are worried or somewhat worried about how the tariffs will affect their households. At the same time, six in ten expressed confidence—or some confidence—that Canada can safeguard its economic interests should a new agreement with the United States eventually be reached. Nanos described this mix of apprehension and assurance as a “clear‑headed” understanding that a tariff war inevitably brings hardship. He added that optimism about a future improvement in bilateral relations is tepid, with only 22 percent expecting a better relationship in five years and a further 39 percent anticipating it to be somewhat better.
Trust in the United States and Hope for Repair
Three‑quarters of respondents disagreed, to varying degrees, that the United States remains a trustworthy ally of Canada, with the lowest level of agreement—just 4.7 percent—coming from Quebec. Despite the distrust, more than three in five Canadians believe the relationship could improve over the next half decade, although Nanos cautioned that such hope is “tepid,” noting that only one in five firmly anticipate a better outlook.
Why it Matters
The poll underscores that Canadians are largely prepared to endure short‑term economic pain to defend national interests in the face of perceived U.S. aggression, yet it also flags the fragility of that resolve. As household budgets feel the squeeze of higher prices and regional divides persist, the government’s ability to sustain a firm stance will be tested against mounting economic pressures and the lingering hope for a repaired trans‑border partnership.
