76% of Canadians view the new Trump tariffs as a threat, but they are divided on how to respond: Leger poll

A Canadian and American flag fly along the border at the Detroit River in Windsor. Photo by Dan Janisse /The Windsor Star

Article content

Awareness of the latest U.S. tariff threat is high among Canadians, according to a new Leger poll, but only 50 per cent support some level of tariff response.

Article content

Overall, 68 per cent of poll respondents are following Canada–U.S. trade developments closely, the new data suggest. More men (77 per cent) are doing so than women (59 per cent). Meanwhile, Canadians 55 and over are more engaged in the tariff news (79 per cent) than younger Canadians, 18-34 (59 per cent).

Article content

Article content

Article content

The poll results state that 80 per cent of respondents had heard about U.S. President Donald Trump’s most recent tariff announcement of a new 50 per cent tariff on certain goods imported from Canada. Looking to age demographics, those 55 and over were most aware (89 per cent). Among respondents 35-54, that number was 76 per cent, with those 18-34 less so, at 70 per cent.

Article content

Article content

“Economic issues, generally, and tariffs, more specifically, aren’t particularly sexy or eye-catching topics,” says Andrew Enns, executive vice-president of Leger’s Central Canada operations, “but what is different is they are associated with a very attention-getting individual — Donald Trump.”

Article content

Enns told National Post in an email on Wednesday afternoon that “we seem to have a few very high-profile instances where the U.S. administration has been publicly embroiled with Canada.” He pointed to the U.S. legislators blaming Canada for the wildfire smoke south of the border, along with the saga over the Gordie Howe Bridge.

Article content

“These issues put U.S. relations at the forefront for people, so as an extension, news around tariffs gets noticed.”

Article content

Article content

The tariffs are perceived widely to be an economic threat, according to the poll. Approximately three-quarters of respondents (76 per cent) consider them a serious threat to the Canadian economy. That includes 31 per cent who view them as “very serious” and 45 per cent as “somewhat serious.”

Article content

Article content

This perception of the tariffs as threatening was consistent across the country — highest in British Columbia (83 per cent).

Article content

Canadian confidence in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s leadership to achieve the best possible outcome with the U.S. is mixed, but moderately positive. A small majority of respondents (53 per cent) expressed high confidence in Carney’s ability to achieve the best possible outcome. That compares with 38 per cent who expressed low confidence and 9 per cent who were uncertain. Confidence in Carney is highest in Atlantic Canada (64 per cent) and among respondents aged 55 and older (58 per cent).

Article content

Leger found that greater awareness of American tariffs against Canada is linked to higher confidence and lower uncertainty with regard to Carney’s ability. Among respondents following the issue closely, 60 per cent expressed high confidence in Carney, compared with 39 per cent of respondents who have not been following the tariff news closely.