The Blubber

A majority of Canadians now view their closest ally, the United States, unfavourably—a reflection of growing frustration over trade policies and perceived threats to Canada’s sovereignty.

This shift aligns with broader trends within G7 nations, where citizens generally harbour more scepticism toward the U.S. than Americans do toward their allies, according to a new Pew Research Center poll. The survey found that over 70% of Americans hold positive views of Japan (77%), Canada (74%), Italy (74%), and the U.K. (70%).

However, the sentiment isn’t reciprocated. Among G7 nations, Canadians have shown the sharpest decline in their opinion of the U.S., with just 34% viewing their neighbour favourably—down from 54% last year. Conversely, 64% now hold unfavourable views, and nearly 40% express very unfavourable opinions, compared with only 15% twelve months ago.

This chill in relations has tangible effects: Statistics Canada data show Canadian return air travel to the U.S. plunged nearly 25% in May 2025 compared to May 2024, while return trips by car were down nearly 40% for the fifth consecutive month year-over-year.

Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned on a platform of patriotic defence against President Trump’s tariff threats, explicitly rejecting the suggestion that Canada might one day become America's 51st state. A high-profile White House meeting in May raised hopes for a thaw—only to see those dashed when Trump doubled tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

In response, Carney announced plans to significantly boost Canada’s defence spending—a key demand from Trump—while also reiterating Canada's strategic aim to reduce its economic dependence on the U.S. “We stood shoulder to shoulder with the Americans throughout the Cold War,” he said. “Today, that dominance is a thing of the past.”