Humanity Over Tariffs: 465 New Citizens Take Oath at CNE
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Amid a volatile trade war with the U.S., Toronto's largest citizenship ceremony since the pandemic highlights a shared national identity.
While geopolitical tensions escalate between Canada and the U.S., 465 individuals from 57 different countries found common ground Tuesday during a citizenship ceremony at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto, as CBC Toronto first reported. According to CNE CEO Mark Holland, the event was the largest hosted by the Exhibition since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ceremony took place during a period of intense diplomatic friction. CBC News reports that U.S. President Donald Trump implemented 50 per cent tariffs on approximately $28 billion of Canadian goods on Saturday. This sparked a war of words between Trump and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, with Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing that retaliatory, dollar-for-dollar tariffs will begin Sept. 8.
For the new citizens, the volatility of the trade war served as a catalyst for unity. Karimat Okunlole, a structural designer and University of British Columbia graduate who moved to Canada 13 years ago, expressed pride in Canada standing up to its "bullying neighbours." Similarly, Antonio Elias, a phone technician and former refugee from Syria, told CBC News that "harmony between the people is stronger than any tariffs," noting that the current tensions have made Canadians "more Canadian."
Federal government data indicates that between 2022 and 2025, an average of over 356,000 people became Canadian citizens annually. The CNE has hosted these annual ceremonies for 26 years, providing a backdrop of community and shared identity even as political disputes persist.