Michael Higgins writes that a new poll by Leger shows most Canadians are resilient and proud despite expecting a tariff war with the US to raise living costs, with 83% reporting feeling proud to be Canadian. The top issue facing Canadians is inflation and rising costs (35%), followed closely by "Trump, tariffs and U.S. aggression" (24%). A generational divide exists in concerns about tariffs, with younger age groups fearing financial impact and job loss.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
Canadians are bracing themselves for tough times ahead but can be grateful to Donald Trump for at least uniting them in feeling immense pride in this country.
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Canadians → brace → country
A new Postmedia Leger poll reveals that most Canadians are resilient and stoic in the face of a tariff war they expect will raise the cost of living.
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they → reveal → living
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And while 41 per cent of Canadians now see the United States as an enemy that is almost certainly down to the buffoonish behaviour of the U.S. president.
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that → see → president
Trump isn’t winning any Canadian friends by renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America, belittling our leaders by calling them “nasty,” musing about making us the 51st state and imposing punishing tariffs.
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us → win → tariffs
Of course, the villain in the White House is the perfect foil for Prime Minister Mark Carney who has wasted no opportunity to stoke the fire of patriotism.
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who → waste → patriotism
The prime minister senses the mood of the nation and is using it successfully for his political ends.
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minister → sense → ends
But all this bluster is drowning out the real fears and worries of ordinary Canadians.
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bluster → drown → Canadians
The new poll by Leger is on the Canada-U.S. Trade War but interestingly it finds the top issue facing Canadians is “inflation and the rising cost of items” with 35 per cent of people being concerned.
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cent → find → people
“Trump, tariffs and U.S. aggression” comes in second at 24 per cent.
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Trump → come → cent
Health care and housing affordability round out the top four slots.
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care → round → slots
The trade war is soaking up a lot of oxygen and attention, but even amidst this hullabaloo it is clear Canadians are still extremely focused on — and worried about — buying groceries and paying the rent.
What the poll also reveals is that there is a generational divide over the issues at play.
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reveals → soak → play
The younger age groups are also the ones who expect to be hurt financially from the tariffs.
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who → expect → tariffs
In the 18-34 group, almost three-quarters of people believe the tariffs will have an impact on their finances.
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tariffs → believe → finances
That drops to 66 per cent of people aged 35-54 and to just over half of the 55 plus age group.
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That → drop → group
The younger cohorts are also more concerned about losing their jobs in the next 12 months and more likely to believe Canada is currently in a recession.
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Canada → lose → recession
But across the board most people are resigned to the fact that the new tariffs will affect consumer prices.
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tariffs → resign → prices
What is remarkable is that even though Canadians know they face rising costs, and that retaliatory tariffs will increase the cost of living, three out of four people support them.
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people → know → them
Along with that grit comes pride.
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pride → come → grit
A total of 83 per cent report they are proud to be Canadian with a similar figure found right across the country and across all age groups falling only to 77 per cent in the 18-34 group.
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figure → report → group
The mood is being driven by Trump and tariffs.
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mood → drive → Trump
In the last 2-3 months, 41 per cent of Canadians said they felt more pride in being Canadian and three-quarters attributed their increase in pride to Trump’s statements.
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quarters → say → statements
There is also anger at our southern neighbour with 41 per cent regarding America as an enemy.
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cent → be → enemy
But, again, this view is being driven by older Canadians: just over half of those aged 55 or over see the U.S. as an enemy as opposed to 31 per cent of those aged 18-34.
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half → drive → those
Only 22 per cent regard America as an ally, the same number who view it as a neutral country.
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who → regard → country
At the end of March last year, shortly after the U.S. president announced 25 per cent tariffs on a host of Canadian goods, America was seen as an enemy by 43 per cent of people.
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America → announce → people
However, attitudes would change if Trump was no longer president.
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Trump → change → ?
The new poll shows that 64 per cent of people would change their opinion of the U.S. being an enemy if Trump was no longer in the White House.
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Trump → show → House
All this anger and pride is to be expected when one feels betrayed.
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one → expect → ?
But Canadians aren’t all emotion, they have their practical side which demands answers and they knew where they want them to come from: parliament.
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them → have → parliament
More than half of Canadians — 56 per cent — support recalling the House of Commons to address the tariff war.
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half → support → war
Carney has proved himself adept at having his finger on the pulse of the nation, but if he truly wants to fulfill the wishes of Canadians he should recall parliament and tell the country exactly what this trade war is all about.
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war → prove → what
And if he wants to improve the mood of the country, he could tell Canadians how he’s going to make it a less expensive place to live.
uncertain
it → want → Canadians
