A surge in patriotism and fewer US trips

Nadine YousifSenior Canada reporter

EPA Prime Minister Mark Carney, slightly out of focus, walks in profile next to President Donald Trump. EPA

In the year since US President Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term, he has brought with him significant global shifts.

Like many countries, Canada – America’s closest neighbour to the north – has felt the impact and seen a change in the long-standing relationship with its close security ally and trading partner.

Trump has imposed tariffs on several key Canadian sectors and has warned of more to come. He has also referred to Canada as “the 51st state” — a jab that has been met with a mix of anxiety and an uncharactaristically fierce display of patriotism.

He has had an effect not just on how Canadians shop and travel, but on the country’s domestic politics and world view.

Here are five ways Trump has had an impact on Canada.

A shift in how Canadians see the US

While the relationship between the two countries has had its ups and downs, many Canadians shop, travel and even work in the US, and have family ties to the country.

But the past 12 months has seen a change in Canadians’ overall attitudes towards the US, if not towards Americans themselves.

Polling conducted by the Pew Research Center last spring indicated that 64% of Canadians held a negative view of the US in 2025 — the highest ever recorded in more than two decades of polling by Pew.

This is a reversal from how they felt before the second Trump administration, when the majority said they held a favourable view of their neighbour.

The survey suggested an even larger percentage of Canadians, around 77%, lack confidence in Trump as a president. Nine-in-10 respondents described him as “arrogant”, and three-quarters said they believe he is “dangerous”.

A separate Angus Reid poll from October suggests that nearly half of Canadians (46%) want their government to approach the US as an “enemy or potential threat”.

This is higher than for India (24%) or China (34%). Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has sought to improve the relationship with both of those countries after years of tensions related, among other issues, to allegations of foreign interference.

A more recent Leger poll conducted earlier this month indicates that one in three Canadians believe the US could take “direct action” to control Canada in the future. The poll was in response to the US seizure this month of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and Trump’s renewed comments on taking control of Greenland.

Fewer trips south

The US has long been the number one travel destination for Canadians — an unsurprising statistic given the proximity of two countries.

While it remains a top destination, the number of Canadians making trips south has dropped by more than 25%, according to the latest data by Statistics Canada.

That decline has been noticed by the American tourism industry, which forecast a loss of $5.7bn (£4.3bn) in tourism spending in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Some jurisdictions, like California, have even run advertisements to try to entice Canadians back.

But many have opted to vacation at home, with the domestic tourism sector reporting a record-breaking C$59bn ($42bn) in revenues from May to August, up 6% from the same period last year, according to Destination Canada, a national tourism organisation.

Others have gone to Mexico, with national data showing a 12% surge in Canadians visiting Mexican cities in the last year.

‘Come hug it out!’ – How a Canadian tourism ad went viral

Buying more local products

The boycott has extended to store shelves, with more Canadians now choosing local products in the face of US tariffs.

Nowhere is this more significant than in liquor stores, where American alcohol was pulled from shelves by most provinces in retaliation against Trump’s levies.

Overall exports of US spirits fell 9% in the last quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

In Canada, the value of US liquor imports dropped from $63.1bn in late 2024 to just over $9.5bn in late 2025.

Canadians are also buying more Mexican-made cars, with vehicle imports from Mexico surpassing American imports for the very first time as of July, according to data from Statistics Canada.

There’s even a push to “Buy Canadian” at the federal government level, with Carney prioritising procurement from domestic suppliers, a move tailored to help specific sectors hard-hit by Trump’s tariffs on products like steel and lumber.

That includes in defence procurement, with Canada seeking to shift away from US suppliers as it significantly ramps up defence spending to meet its Nato commitments.

An up-ended federal election

Before Trump’s second term, Canada’s governing Liberal Party appeared headed towards a potentially historic collapse in the upcoming federal election.

Polls at the time consistently showed the opposition Conservatives leading by a wide margin with party leader Pierre Poilievre, whose focus on affordability was resonating with voters, likely to be the next prime minister.

Then the political script in Canada flipped.

Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned in January – an exit hastened in part to his finance minister publicly quitting in protest over his handling of Trump.

That made way for Carney, a former central banker with political ambitions, to run for the party’s leadership.

Carney leaned heavily on his economic experience as he campaigned as the man who could stand up to Trump, and voters, anxious about Canada’s sovereignty and economy in face of the new US administration, flocked back to the Liberals.

In late April’s election, Carney achieved what was unthinkable just a few months prior: another return to power for the Liberals, with voters giving the party a few seats shy of a majority government.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, lost their fourth consecutive election and Poilievre faces a leadership review later this month.

The latest polling indicates that Carney’s Liberals are a few points ahead of the Conservatives, though the gap between them has narrowed.

Reuters Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney smiles as he shakes hands with President of China Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Facing the camera, they stand on a red carpet in front of Canadian and Chinese flags. Reuters

Making new friends and allies

With the Canada-US trade relationship increasingly unpredictable, Canada is seeking to bolster ties elsewhere, in some cases mending strained ties.

This shift is perhaps most notable with Carney’s visit to China this week — the first by a Canadian prime minister since 2017.

On Friday, Carney announced a deal that would reduce tariffs between the two countries and increase access to each other’s markets.

In Beijing, he struck a pragmatic tone, saying that Canada is forming a “strategic partnership” with the Asian power that will bring economic benefits to both countries.

It was a remarkable shift in tone by Carney, who on the campaign trail called China Canada’s the biggest security threat.

Asked by reporters about his concerns over national security and human rights, the prime minister responded with: “We take the world as it is, not as we wish it to be.”

Carney is also expected to embark on a trade mission to India in the next few weeks. The trip would be a further thawing of Canada-India relations, which have been icy since Trudeau openly accused Indian agents of being behind the extra-judicial killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil.

In the past year, Carney has also made trips to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as a number of European countries, in search for new trade relationships.

What questions do you have about Trump’s first year since returning as President? Click here or use the form below.

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

New York City police officers are on duty outside the Lotte Palace Hotel during a United Nations General Assembly leaders reception, late Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Cyclone Arnab Hits India’s Andhra Pradesh State as Tens of Thousands Evacuate

Prakhar Jain, head of the state’s disaster management authority, said the cyclone had weakened slightly before landfall but still packed peak winds of up to 185 kph (115 mph) and brought heavy to very heavy rainfall to several coastal districts, triggering widespread disruption in affected areas. Officials said the cyclone was expected to weaken further

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (in picture) said that "they're trying to steal the election" after reports that individuals were arrested with envelopes of cash. (REUTERS)

‘They’re trying to steal the election’: Netanyahu attacks Arab parties

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday renewed his attacks on Arab parties, warning after casting his ballot that “they’re trying to steal the election” after reports that individuals were arrested with envelopes of cash. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (in picture) said that “they’re trying to steal the election” after reports that individuals were arrested

New York City police officers are on duty outside the Lotte Palace Hotel during a United Nations General Assembly leaders reception, late Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

France’s Youth Are Outnumbered. Their Protests Are Testing Who Gets Heard

Demographically, it is true that young people in aging societies — which include France but also the United States and others — no longer have the same weight of numbers that helped their parents and grandparents make their mark when they were young. In France, protesting pupils have managed to spark a national conversation about

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press v)

Canadian sentiment on immigration rebounds, survey finds

A new survey in Canada has found that public opinion towards immigrants is turning more positive after years of negativity. This was among the major findings of Focus Canada report on views on immigration released by the Toronto-based Environics Institute for Survey Research on Monday, ahead of the Canadian government announcing its new immigration levels

Youngsters celebrate after Aleksandar Vucic, leader of the right-wing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) conceded defeat in the parliamentary election in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP)

Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia’s autocrat, loses to a bunch of students

ALEKSANDAR VUCIC has ruled Serbia for 14 years, controlling its media, economy and police so completely that the country was not considered a true democracy. But it turned out to be democratic enough. Less than two hours after the polls closed in the legislative election on October 25th, Mr Vucic, who was previously president but

María Corina Machado greets supporters upon her arrival in Caracas on Oct. 25, 2026.

What María Corina Machado’s Return Means for Venezuela

Opposition leader María Corina Machado arrived in Venezuela Sunday, challenging a government she has vowed to oust and that has forged close ties with the Trump administration. Though the U.S. has supported Machado, it also has worked closely with interim President Delcy Rodríguez on oil deals. María Corina Machado greets supporters upon her arrival in

FILE - An entrance of the Lefortovo prison is seen in Moscow, Thursday, March 30, 2023. (AP Photo)

Russia has seized a Japanese journalist, freezing an icy relationship

Imai yuki spent years learning to read Russian literature in the original. On a student exchange programme in St Petersburg in 2014-15, the lanky young Japanese man impressed Russian friends with his knowledge of their city and its literary legends, such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Mr Imai parlayed his language skills into a job covering Russia

Florida has staked a position as one of the most aggressive states taking on artificial intelligence and Big Tech, bucking President Trump and channeling growing consumer anxieties about AI. (UNSPLASH)

How Florida Took the Lead in Battling Big Tech

Florida’s attorney general asked a judge to restrict children’s access to Meta’s platforms, won a court ruling allowing a social-media ban for minors and sued messaging platform Discord for allegedly failing to protect children from predators. That was all in just one week earlier this month. Florida has staked a position as one of the

Health workers and humanitarian responders on the front lines of the Ebola response gather to receive a vaccination due to their potential exposure to the virus as part of their work with suspected cases. (Representative Image/Reuters)

Kenya releases first Ebola contacts from quarantine: Report

Kenya on Monday released from quarantine the first group of people who came into contact with its index Ebola patient, a milestone in its efforts to contain cases to a single infection cluster. Health workers and humanitarian responders on the front lines of the Ebola response gather to receive a vaccination due to their potential

font

Israel Elections 2026: Can Netanyahu Hold Onto Power? GFX | World News

News world Israel Elections 2026: Can Netanyahu Hold Onto Power? GFX Last Updated:October 26, 2026, 19:35 IST Israel Elections 2026: Netanyahu faces a challenge from opposition figures seeking to end his time in power. Netanyahu has campaigned heavily on his security credentials, touting the war he launched against Iran in February alongside the United States

New York City police officers are on duty outside the Lotte Palace Hotel during a United Nations General Assembly leaders reception, late Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Serbia’s Political Veteran Vucic Outplayed All Opponents. Then the Students Came

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s populist strongman Aleksandar Vucic dominated the Balkan country’s politics for 14 years. Then came the students. The long-ruling authoritarian leader on Sunday conceded the defeat of his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party to a grassroots movement of university students in a parliamentary election. The students had led protests for almost two

Colombian Man Sets World Record For Longest Single-Arm Handstand

Colombian Man Sets World Record For Longest Single-Arm Handstand

The record was achieved in Bogota, Colombia. Fitness requires strength, balance and control over the body. Some people demonstrate these abilities by performing difficult physical activities. Nestor Santiago Gonzalez Valero from Colombia achieved a Guinness World Records title by holding a single-arm handstand for 1 minute and 54.50 seconds in Bogota, Colombia. According to Guinness

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Donald Trump. (REUTERS/FILE)

‘Vote for Bibi for PM’: Trump renews pitch for Netanyahu as Israel heads to polls tomorrow

US President Donald Trump once again threw his weight behind incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel elections tomorrow, reiterating his endorsement of the Israeli leader, asking citizens to “vote for Bibi for PM.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Donald Trump. (REUTERS/FILE) In his latest post on Truth Social,

Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

“I’m Here, With You”: Venezuela Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado Returns To Caracas

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado returned to Caracas in a surprise move that could pose the biggest test yet to acting President Delcy Rodriguez’s political opening and the Trump administration’s strategy for post-Maduro Venezuela. “I’m here, with you,” Machado posted on X on Sunday, confirming her return after months abroad. Estoy aquí. Con ustedes

Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

Trump Critic Lula Wins Record Fourth Term In Brazil In Surprise Comeback

Brasilia: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva came from behind to win Brazil’s runoff election, halting a right-wing wave sweeping Latin America and defying predictions that the 80-year-old political veteran had finally reached the end of his extraordinary career.  The electoral court declared Lula the victor with 51.8 per cent versus 48.2 per cent for Flavio

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, Aug. 15, 2025.

Coddling Putin Won’t Bring Peace to Ukraine

President Trump’s gambit to end Russia’s war in Ukraine by pressuring the victim is certain to fail. His approach to the war reveals he misunderstands facts that American voters understand well. Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, Aug. 15, 2025. While Vladimir Putin ignores Mr. Trump’s call for an energy cease-fire and continues

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Machado Announces Return To Venezuela

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Machado Announces Return To Venezuela

Observers believed US played a role in blocking Machado’s return Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado said Sunday she has returned to her home country after nearly a year in exile. “I am here. With you,” Machado wrote in a short post in Spanish on X. Her ally, exiled presidential

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x