Canadians Support A Robust Response To U.S. Tariffs

In the wake of the United States imposing new tariffs on Canada, over two thirds of Canadians support a COVID-style program to protect workers, up 8 points since July of last year.  Majorities also say industries and companies should be willing to accept economic pain, and that they are personally willing to accept some hardship.  However, willingness to share the pain drops to 41% among Generation Z and increases with age up to 67% among Boomers.

Significant majorities of Canadians say they will make an effort to Buy Canadian more often in the wake of the trade deal breakdown.  Willingness to Buy Canadian more often increases with age, from 49% among GenZ and 48% among Millennials to 58% among GenX and 79% among Boomers.  By contrast, the number of Canadians who say they will travel to the U.S., buy U.S. alcohol or support American-owned companies operating in Canada is 10% or less each category among all age groups.

Canadians overwhelmingly support retaliatory measures on the U.S., including 73% who support the dollar-for-dollar tariffs Canada has already implemented.  However, in Alberta, support for limiting the flow of oil, natural gas and electricity sold to the U.S. drops to 58%, but there is more robust support in Alberta for an export tariff on oil, natural gas and electricity (69%).

There is broad support for the federal government taking action to protect Canadian workers and businesses, with preference for governments preferring Canadian-made products in purchasing and infrastructure topping the list at 80%.  

Higher income Canadians making over $100K a year are more supportive of all measures, and Albertans are especially supportive of helping Canadian businesses find new markets.

Support for these measures is also strong for voters of every major party, although Liberal supporters are more in favour overall. New Democrat supporters are especially supportive of emergency financial aid for workers.