ClaimMechanism
Canadians' rally against the US shows in behaviour, not just polls: return trips from the US fell 25.4% in 2025 (all modes; car trips were still 27% below 2024 in August 2026), spending on US visits fell by C$3.3 billion, boycotts spread, and two premiers called snap elections citing the US threat. This shows the effect, not what caused it.
Articles that cite this record
The evidence it rests on
Supports (8)
- Ford calls a snap Ontario election, seeking a "strong, stable, four-year mandate" to fight Trump's threatened tariffs
First snap election on the US threat.
Documented by: Elections Ontario, “Election Returns with Statistics from the Records - 2023 and 2024 By-elections and 2025 General Election” (external site). and 1 more
- British Columbia snap election called for 2026-10-24, two years early
Second snap election citing the trade conflict.
Documented by: CBC News, “British Columbia's next provincial election set for Oct. 24 after Eby calls early vote” (external site), . and 2 more
- Provincial liquor boards, including Ontario's LCBO and Quebec's SAQ, pull US alcohol from their shelves
Boycott with cost.
Documented by: CP24, “Ontario removing U.S. alcohol from LCBO as 'first round of retaliation' against Trump's tariffs” (external site), . and 2 more
- Federal election: Carney's Liberals win 169 of 343 seats, three short of a majority, after a campaign dominated by Trump's tariffs and annexation talk
A federal election fought largely over who could stand up to Trump returned the Liberals, as "elbows up" became a national rallying cry.
Documented by: Liberal Party of Canada, “Liberal Party of Canada 2025 platform, 'Canada Strong' (66-page PDF)” (external site), . and 6 more
- StatCan: Canadian-resident return trips from the US fell 25.4% in 2025, and spending on US visits fell C$3.3B to C$18.8B
Source of the travel figures: return trips from the US (all modes) -25.4% in 2025; US travel spending -C$3.3B; car trips still -27.4% vs 2024 in Aug 2026.
Documented by: Statistics Canada, “Canadian-resident travel to the United States: A year in review (Economic and Social Reports 36-28-0001)” (external site), . and 1 more
- Eby: US terms would reduce Canada to 'the economic equivalent of the 51st state'; US liquor stays off BC shelves until softwood duties change
BC keeps US liquor off its shelves until US softwood duties change, and its premier says the US terms would make Canada 'the economic equivalent of the 51st state': the rally shows in a provincial measure.
Documented by: CBC News, “U.S. trade demands aimed to reduce Canada to '51st state,' B.C. premier says” (external site), .
- Boycott polls, 2025: Abacus (Feb 20-25) 71% intend to avoid US travel for at least six months; Research Co. (May 25-27) 60% avoid US goods when an alternative exists
2025 polls: 71% of Canadians intended to avoid US travel for at least six months (Abacus) and 60% avoided US goods when there was an alternative (Research Co.). The boycott the claim describes, as people reported it.
Documented by: Abacus Data, “Canadians plan to avoid the U.S. amid political tensions” (external site), . and 1 more
- StatCan (July 2026): Canadian-resident car trips back from the US up 12.6% year on year, but all return trips still 25.6% below July 2024
Statistics Canada, July 2026: return trips from the US were still 25.6% below July 2024, even as car trips recovered year on year. The drop in travel lasts.
Documented by: Statistics Canada, “The Daily: Travel between Canada and other countries, July 2026” (external site), .
Complicates (1)
- British Columbia general election, polling day (scheduled)
In BC, tariffs are a top issue for only 15% of voters.
Documented by: Wikipedia, “2026 British Columbia general election” (external site). and 2 more
Context (3)
- Angus Reid (Feb 2-3, 2025): 'very proud' to be Canadian rises from 34% (Dec 2024) to 44%; deep emotional attachment 49% to 59%
Angus Reid, February 2025: 'very proud' to be Canadian rose from 34% to 44% in two months. The poll side of the rally; the claim rests on behaviour.
Documented by: Angus Reid Institute, “Angus Reid: pride in Canada rises amid Trump tariff threats” (external site), .
- Léger (Aug 28-31, 2026): 41% call the US an enemy (up 15 points from June 2025; ally 22%); 64% say their view would change without Trump; 74% agree with Carney's new counter-tariffs; 41% feel more proud recently
Léger, August 2026: 41% call the US an enemy and 74% back the new counter-tariffs. Opinion, set beside the behaviour the claim counts.
Documented by: Léger, “Canada-U.S. Trade War: Léger online survey of Canadians, August 28–31, 2026” (external site), .
- Pew (spring 2026): 33% of Canadians view the US favourably (54% in 2024) and 44% view China favourably, the first time China leads in the series
Pew, spring 2026: Canadians view China (44%) more favourably than the US (33%), a first in the series. Opinion, not behaviour.
Documented by: Pew Research Center, “Canadians and Mexicans now view China more positively than the US” (external site), .
Claims are weighed by the evidence under them, actions first. Method.