Ottawa's High-Stakes Trade Gamble: Public Support Masks Economic Anxiety

OPINION: The federal government is playing a dangerous game. As CityNews Toronto first reported, Prime Minister Mark Carney is betting that a theoretical geopolitical win—refusing to bow to American pressure—will outweigh the tangible risks to the Canadian business class by walking away from the trade table. While the public may cheer the defiance now, the economic fallout of a severed relationship with our largest trading partner could be devastating.

According to reporting from CityNews Toronto, a new Angus Reid poll suggests that the Canadian public is currently aligned with Ottawa's hardline stance. The survey, conducted August 22–23, 2026, among 1,468 adults, found that 76 per cent of respondents believe Canada did the right thing by abandoning trade talks with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. This support is widespread across the country, with majority levels reported in every province, including Alberta (67 per cent) and Saskatchewan (65 per cent).

CityNews Toronto notes that this sentiment transcends partisan lines, as 53 per cent of those who voted Conservative in the 2025 federal election agree that walking away was preferable to accepting a bad deal. Furthermore, 62 per cent of respondents view Prime Minister Mark Carney's commitment to implement dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs as "about right under the circumstances."

However, the poll reveals a simmering undercurrent of economic fear. CityNews Toronto reports that 25 per cent of Canadian workers expressed anxiety regarding their job security, with 13 per cent stating they are "very" concerned about losing their jobs. While 64 per cent of those polled believe Canada will emerge stronger by reducing its reliance on the United States, 26 per cent worry the damage to the relationship with Canada's most critical trading partner will be difficult to overcome.