Nearly a third of Canadians view US as an ‘enemy country’: Poll

• Recent tensions between the United States and Canada have led to a shift in public perception, with 27% of Canadians now viewing the U.S. as an enemy and 30% still seeing it as an ally. This shift is attributed to recent tariff threats.
• President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on various goods, including lumber, which has sparked criticism from Canadian officials.
• Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng and British Columbia’s Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar have voiced their concerns, predicting significant tariffs on softwood lumber and emphasizing the economic impact on both countries.

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Recent tensions between the United States and Canada have led to a shift in public perception. Many Canadians now view the United States as an enemy.

On Thursday, Feb. 20, Canadian pollster Leger released a survey involving 1,500 Canadians and 1,000 Americans.

What did the poll show?

The survey indicates that 27% of Canadians now consider the U.S. an enemy, while 30% still see it as an ally. Another 27% view it as neutral. The shift is attributed to recent tariff threats.

The sentiment becomes more apparent in the Leger survey regarding views on President Donald Trump.

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Seventy-four percent of Canadians have an unfavorable view of President Trump, with only 13% viewing him favorably.

Conservative supporters are more likely to have a positive opinion of Trump compared to Liberal Party and New Democratic Party supporters.

What tariffs has Trump enacted?

The first round of tariffs is delayed until March. However, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, President Donald Trump announced he’s adding Global Lumber to the list.

“I’m going to be announcing tariffs on cars and semiconductors and chips and pharmaceuticals, drugs and pharmaceuticals and lumber, probably. And some other things over the next month or sooner. And it’s going to have a big impact on America. We’re bringing our businesses back. If they don’t make their product in America. Then they very simply, they have to pay a tariff,” Trump said.

Canada’s trade minister, Mary Ng, appeared on Bloomberg Thursday morning. Ng said the Canadian government is working with America, but she added tariffs make no sense.

“Adding a tariff just simply makes it more expensive for Americans. Adding tariffs to Canadian exports simply means that it’s going to cost Americans more at the grocery store. It’s going to cost Americans more at the pumps. So, it makes no sense,” Ng said.

British Columbia’s minister of forests, Ravi Parmar, spoke on Friday, Feb. 14, about lumber tariffs.

“We are predicting with a Trump tariff and increased duties, we could be dealing with a 50 to 55% tariff and duty on softwood lumber leaving British Columbia,” Parmar said.

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Parmar said he feels the tariffs are unnecessary given that the United States currently meets only 70% of its home-building lumber needs, ultimately relying on Canada to fill the gap.

Trump told reporters on Monday, Feb. 17, that certain tariffs will be gradual. The president said he wants to give companies time to move to the United States to create factories and plants to avoid all tariffs.