REGINA, Sask. — Canadians are experiencing a wide range of emotions in the wake of the move by Prime Minister Mark Carney to walk away from trade talks with the United States, according to a new Angus Reid Institute survey.
The survey released earlier this week reports a wide range of emotions from Canadians in response to the latest turbulence in the trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada. According to that survey released Tuesday, almost one in five Canadians, or 19 per cent, express frustration or anger after a year and a half of tariffs. Other reactions include anxiety, fear and uncertainty (12 per cent) and disappointment (seven per cent).
Angus Reid is also reporting that the vast majority of Canadians, 69 per cent, want a “Team Canada” approach from their province. This is supported by a majority in every province, with 57 per cent favouring this approach in Saskatchewan, up to a high of 75 per cent in Manitoba.
Angus Reid reports this support is in spite of concerns that the trade dispute will hurt their province. It reports 66 per cent believe the trade war will badly or very badly affect their province, with the highest numbers coming from respondents in B.C., at 68 per cent; Ontario, at 70 per cent; and Quebec, at 70 per cent — which Angus Reid notes are the three provinces likely to bear the biggest brunt from the latest Trump tariffs.
Angus Reid also reports 51 per cent of respondents would want to see money shifted from other government programs to go to tariff supports, with only 17 per cent supporting federal and provincial governments borrowing or taxing to fund tariff supports.
The survey was conducted Aug. 22 to 24, 2026, among a randomized sample of 1,770 Canadian adults.
In another Angus Reid survey released Aug. 23, the institute reports that 76 per cent of Canadians endorsed the Carney government’s decision to walk away from trade negotiations.
That support is at majority levels in every province in the country, but is lowest in Saskatchewan at 65 per cent and in Alberta at 67 per cent.
It also reported more agreement across the political spectrum, with 53 per cent of Conservative voters in the 2025 federal election saying it was “right” to walk away rather than accept a bad deal.
Angus Reid also reported that 69 per cent say Carney showed strength by refusing a bad deal. That survey also reported strong backing for dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs, with 62 per cent calling Canada’s counter-tariffs “about right under the circumstances.”
On the flip side, 89 per cent reported they are concerned about the impact on the cost of goods and services. Thirteen per cent of Canadian workers reported they are “very” concerned about losing their own job, and a further 25 per cent expressed some level of anxiety.
But 64 per cent do believe Canada will emerge stronger as it reduces its dependence on the United States. Twenty-six per cent disagree, saying they worry it will be difficult to overcome the damage to the relationship with the United States.
