SKEENA REGION, B.C. – A new national poll reflects the growing anxiety felt in communities across the Skeena, revealing that a strong majority of Canadians are now actively avoiding U.S. goods and travel amid the ongoing trade dispute with the United States.
The Ipsos poll, conducted just before last week’s halt to trade talks, found that 75% of Canadians now intend to avoid travelling to the U.S., while 72% are trying to avoid buying U.S.-made products.
This national sentiment is deeply felt in local communities like Kitimat, where residents are closely watching the real-world impact of U.S. aluminum tariffs on the Rio Tinto smelter and the regional economy.
According to the poll, 77% of Canadians say they now think less of the U.S. as a country due to the trade actions and rhetoric of the current U.S. administration.
In a surprising twist, however, this growing frustration appears to be fueling a resurgence in Canadian patriotism. The poll found that nearly half of all Canadians (47%) say they are more proud to be Canadian than they were five years ago—a massive 31-point jump from last year. This corresponds with a double-digit increase in the number of people who said they were more likely to attend a Canada Day event this year.
An Ipsos polling expert noted that after years of declining pride due to internal challenges, the external pressure from the U.S. seems to have “reignited pride and flag in country.”
Despite the patriotic surge, deep economic anxiety remains. The poll found that 59% of Canadians still believe their personal financial situation will suffer because of the trade dispute, a number that has remained steady for months.
