Canada and the United States have enjoyed a strong relationship for more than a century. There have been ups and downs depending on the respective leaders in each country, but underneath remained a solid foundation of trust and partnership. This has played out through expanding integration across the two economies, an enduring defense partnership through NATO and the Strategic Air Command, and a welcoming coast-to-coast border easily crossed by countless Canadians and Americans for business, leisure and family visits.
The second Trump administration has quickly upended this historic relationship, through punitive tariffs on Canadian industry, intrusive border restrictions, and repeated talk of absorbing Canada as the US 51st state. This sudden aggressive posture from a long-trusted ally now poses the greatest existential threat to Canada since its founding as a Dominion in the mid 19th century (an act prompted in large part by fears of US annexation at that time).
In Canada, public reaction to these events has been swift and unequivocal, as revealed in the latest Focus Canada survey which was conducted May 5 to 18, 2025. Canadians have become much more negative in their view of the United States and more “elbows up” confident in their own country as a sovereign nation.
Survey Details
The Spring 2025 Focus Canada survey is based on telephone interviews conducted (via landline and cellphones) with 2,000 Canadians between May 5 and 18, 2025. A sample of this size drawn from the population produces results accurate to within plus or minus 2.2 percentage points in 19 out of 20 samples.
Focus Canada
Focus Canada is the longest running and most comprehensive public opinion research program on public policy issues in Canada.
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