Canadians rank U.S. ties as low as Russia; see potential in China amid Trump backlash

Time of India

26-04-2025

Jack Jedwab, president and CEO of the Association for Canadian Studies, captured the startling findings of a new Leger survey, remarking, "To see it hit that level where we evaluate our relations with the United States as badly as we do our relationship with Russia — and assess our relations with China better than our relations with the United States — is really mind-boggling."
#Pahalgam Terrorist Attack
India stares at a 'water bomb' threat as it freezes Indus Treaty
India readies short, mid & long-term Indus River plans
Shehbaz Sharif calls India's stand "worn-out narrative"
The poll reveals a dramatic shift in Canadian perceptions of international relations, with ties to the U.S. plummeting to an all-time low.
The survey, conducted from April 17 to 19, reveals that only 16 per cent of Canadians believe the country has a good relationship with the U.S., a figure shockingly comparable to the 15 per cent who hold that view about relations with Russia.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Play War Thunder now for free
War Thunder
Play Now
Undo
Conversely, a significant 36 per cent of Canadians perceive a positive relationship with China, while confidence in ties with Mexico, the European Union, and the U.K. soars above 75 per cent.
Jedwab attributes this dramatic shift to U.S. President Donald Trump's perceived threats to Canadian sovereignty and the broader global economic order.
Live Events
"Donald Trump has done more to unify Canadians than any leaders since the post-Confederation period," he asserted, highlighting the unprecedented level of national consensus against Trump's policies.
The Leger survey echoes findings from earlier Ipsos polls, which indicated that the Canada-U.S. relationship is a top concern for Canadians, with a majority expressing diminished views of the U.S. and a willingness to boycott American goods and travel.
Despite recent political tensions, Canadians express strong ties with Mexico, a finding Jedwab attributes to a shared sense of vulnerability in the face of U.S. pressure. "There is a perception amongst Canadians that we're dealing with some of the same challenges as Mexico is, in terms of our respective most important ally," he explained.
The survey also comes in the wake of Chinese Ambassador Wang Di's overture for a Canada-China partnership to counter U.S. "bullying" on global trade.
Jedwab acknowledges the potential for a "reordering" of international alliances, though he remains cautious about the feasibility of such a partnership.
"When you're often in these sort of global conflicts, it is necessary to negotiate or try to reconcile with countries that you may be at odds with," he noted.
Jedwab suggests that Canadian perceptions of international relations are shaped by expectations.
The perceived low point in Canada-China relations, for instance, may explain the relative openness to improvement. However, regional differences exist, with Albertans and British Columbians, heavily reliant on trade with China, expressing particularly negative views.
As the Canadian election looms, Jedwab emphasizes the need for the next prime minister to navigate this complex international landscape.
"You could have a positive relationship with a country and still feel the relationship is bad," he argued, stressing the importance of channeling public sentiment into constructive diplomatic efforts. "We're going to have to channel this into something constructive."