With trade tensions ramping up between Canada and the U.S., workers on both sides of the border are bracing for impact.
According to Leger’s latest Trump Tariffs Tracker survey, 40% of employed Canadians fear losing their job in the next 12 months, a sentiment echoed by 42% of American workers. The survey, conducted online from March 7 to 10 among 1,548 Canadians and 1,010 Americans, highlights growing economic uncertainty as President Donald Trump moves forward with new tariffs on Canadian imports.
The effects are already being felt in Quebec, where Premier François Legault recently warned that up to 160,000 jobs could be lost in the province over the next six months due to the trade dispute. He has vowed to fight back, citing la Caisse de dépôt, Investissement Québec, and Hydro-Québec as tools to protect jobs.
Economic anxieties are widespread. According to the survey, 52% of Canadians believe the country is already in a recession, while 46% say they’re living paycheck to paycheck. Meanwhile, 80% report that consumer prices have risen in recent weeks, making it even harder to stay afloat.
Frustration with U.S. policies is also affecting consumer behavior. Two-thirds of Canadians have cut back on buying American products, both in stores (68%) and online (65%), while 71% are actively purchasing more Canadian-made goods. The trade standoff is even shaping entertainment and travel habits — 17% of Canadians have canceled U.S. streaming service subscriptions, and 18% have scrapped travel plans to the U.S..
Quebecers are leading the charge in the economic boycott. A previous survey on March 4 found that 66% of Quebec respondents had reduced their spending on Amazon, well above the national average of 56%.
Despite the tensions, Americans still view Canada favorably, with 59% considering the country an ally. However, on trade, 34% support tariffs on Canadian imports, even though 52% believe those measures will harm the U.S. economy.
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