This is The Week in Polling, your Saturday dose of interesting numbers from top pollsters in Canada and around the world, curated by The Hub. Here’s what we’re looking at this week.
Six out of 10 Canadians say they can never trust Americans the same way again
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Source: Ipsos, Global News
Canadians’ trust in their southern neighbour has taken a major hit following months of sweeping tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as several threats to Canadian sovereignty.
This new poll, conducted by Ipsos for Global News, found that 60 percent of Canadians say they can never trust the U.S. the same way ever again.
“It looks to me, based on these data, that Canadians feel that their relationship with the United States has changed in a fundamental way,” said Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos, to Global News. “They’re looking for Canada to create something that protects our own sovereignty within a North American context and make sure that we’re able to survive on this part of the continent that we live on as an independent country.”
Trump first imposed tariffs on Canada in March 2025, triggering a prolonged period of heavy friction between the two countries. Trump has also made repeated public comments about annexing Canada and making it the 51st American state. Trump has indicated on numerous occasions that the best way to eliminate tariffs on Canada is for Canada to become the 51st state. The questions of how to protect Canada’s sovereignty and how to manage relations with the U.S. government were so prominent amongst Canadians that they were effectively the top ballot box questions in the last federal election.
The Ipsos poll also found that over 70 percent of Canadians believe these trade disputes are likely to persist for years. Canadians remain divided over Ottawa’s handling of the situation: about half (51 percent) approve of how Prime Minister Mark Carney and the federal government are managing Canada–U.S. relations, while one-third (32 percent) disapprove, and 18 percent remain unsure.
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