A new public opinion poll by U.S. based Pew Research Center shows a majority of Canadians view the U.S. as both an ally and a threat.
As tariff threats from south of the border continue to ramp up, the survey shows 55 per cent of Canadians view the U.S. as a top ally and nearly 60 per cent consider America a top threat. That number has tripled since 2019.
But how do Calgarians feel?
Shams Umar has lived in Calgary for about seven years. He says his opinion about Canada’s relationship with the U.S. has changed over the last few months.
“I always think probably we’re allies, that’s what I’ve also thought,” says Umar. “But with Donald Trump being the president, obviously a lot of things have changed.”
Similar sentiments come from other Calgarians, with many saying they are buying more Canadian products and avoiding travel to the States.
“This fall we were supposed to go down to the States, a friend and I, and as soon as the tariff and especially the 51st state talk started, we both mutually were like, maybe we wanna keep our money in Canada,” says born and raised Albertan Allyson Deroy. “I don’t want to contribute to an economy that’s trying to harm our economy.”
Mount Royal University political studies professor Lori Williams says the negative Canadian sentiments towards the U.S. resonate in Alberta.
“There are those in Alberta who do want to become the 51st state,” says Williams. “The polling that we’ve seen around that… the support for becoming the 51st state is very low – it’s 10 or 11 per cent.”
Despite the negative feelings towards the U.S. administration and policies, some Calgarians says they don’t feel that way about the American people.
“Many relatives lived in the States, and as a child, we used to travel down to the States quite a bit,” says Donna, a Calgarian. “And I’m still warmly towards American people generally.”
“At the end of the day, they’re our top ally,” says Bob Masterson, who has worked in Alberta for 25 years. “I’ve had very difficult discussions and disagreements with my brother, but we still love each other and we still have a close relationship that we need each other for.”
A couple of American tourists tell CityNews that despite the current tense political environment, they have only met friendly and welcoming Canadians.
“I look at you as just brothers and sisters to us,” says Pam Pospisil, visiting Calgary from Virginia. “We are all just one, we’re all the same.”