Our relationship with the United States has likely changed forever.
On March 4 the U.S. introduced 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian trade goods, and 10 per cent tariffs on energy imports. As promised when the president first threatened this trade war, Canada retaliated with tariffs on some American imports now, with more to come. Since then, every day is another rollercoaster with tariffs rescinded (maybe) and others introduced.
This attack on Canada's economy (the United States is by far our biggest trading partner) has been accompanied by President Donald Trump saying Canada should become the 51st state, and calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a governor.
Canadians are insulted, and we are angry. And we don't want to become Americans.
An Angus Reid Institute poll released March 4, the day the tariffs took effect, showed Canada’s changing views of our southern neighbour.
In October, 2002, 72 per cent of Canadians surveyed had a favourable view of the United States. By March 2025, this had fallen to just 24 per cent. A February poll showed that only four per cent of those surveyed thought Canada should join the United States.
At first Trump's 51st state threats seemed like immature jibes at us and our prime minister. Something to make the news headlines, as Trump lives to do, and to perhaps set the starting line so far back on trade negotiations that he could force Canada to give away the store.
Now, however, it seems clear that as much as any colonial European power from the 16th to the 18th century Trump sees Canada as a trove of natural resources he can plunder, from water and wood to oil and rare earth minerals.
The danger feels very real for those of us here in the true north strong and free.
Regular people are fighting back by choosing to buy Canadian goods like never before. Canadian flags dot grocery store shelves to indicate the products grown and produced in our country. Canadian snowbirds are selling their U.S. properties. Canadian tourists are cancelling their U.S. vacations.
The Province of B.C. is pulling all liquor from the U.S. from provincial liquor store shelves, and promised that government procurement will favour Canada and B.C. first.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District is looking to buy Canadian (and not American) as is the City of Duncan as it shops for its new garbage carts. It seems likely that other municipalities across the country will also look to take similar measures.
Everywhere in Canada, every industry needs to be looking for new trading partners and markets so that even should the current tariffs end, our nation is never so vulnerable again. The U.S. has shown it cannot be considered a trusted partner and friend anymore.
