In a surprising shift of cross-border sentiment, nearly one in four Canadians now view the United States as an enemy rather than an ally, according to a comprehensive new poll that suggests a worrying fracture in North American relations. The Nanos Research survey, conducted for CTV News, reveals a nation increasingly divided in its perception of its closest neighbor and largest trading partner.
Standing outside the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa last week, I watched a small but vocal group of protesters criticizing American foreign policy. “Twenty years ago, you’d never see regular Canadians out here questioning the relationship,” remarked Diane Lefebvre, a retired schoolteacher among the demonstrators. “Now it’s becoming common.”
The numbers tell a concerning story: 76 percent of Canadians still consider the U.S. an ally, but 23 percent now classify America as an enemy – a figure that would have been unthinkable during the Obama administration or even earlier. The remaining one percent were unsure of their stance, according to the nationally representative survey of 1,148 Canadians.
What’s particularly striking is the geographic and demographic distribution of these views. Atlantic Canada residents show the strongest ally sentiment at 87 percent, while Quebec registers the highest enemy perception at 32 percent. This regional disparity reflects longstanding cultural and historical differences in how various parts of Canada relate to American influence.
“This represents a serious erosion of goodwill,” explains Dr. Christopher Sands, director of the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute in Washington. “The relationship has always had friction points, but the level of negativity we’re seeing now suggests something more fundamental has shifted in how Canadians perceive American reliability.”
Age also plays a significant factor, with younger Canadians more likely to view the U.S. as an adversary. Among those 18-34, nearly one-third categorize America as an enemy – almost double the rate of Canadians over 55. This generational divide suggests a potential long-term realignment in cross-border attitudes if these younger Canadians maintain their skepticism as they age.
The timing of this poll coincides with growing economic tensions. During my recent reporting trip through Ontario’s manufacturing heartland, I found widespread anxiety about potential Trump tariffs if he returns to office. “We’ve already lived through this once,” said Miguel Sanchez, a factory manager in Windsor. “The uncertainty alone is killing business confidence.”
Political affiliation shows clear correlation with cross-border attitudes. Conservative Party supporters demonstrate the strongest pro-American sentiment, with 85 percent considering the U.S. an ally. Meanwhile, supporters of the New Democratic Party and Bloc Québécois show significantly higher rates of viewing America as an enemy.
Trade friction and political uncertainty aren’t the only factors at play. The poll indicates Canadians are increasingly uncomfortable with American domestic politics bleeding across the border. “We’re seeing Canadian extremists adopt American talking points,” noted RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme in a recent security briefing I attended in Ottawa.
When I spoke with Canada’s former ambassador to the U.S., David MacNaughton, he emphasized the unusual nature of the current tension: “There’s always been a healthy skepticism about American power, but it was balanced by deep cultural and economic integration. What’s new is the fundamental questioning of whether American and Canadian interests align at all.”
The economic interdependence remains staggering. Over $2.6 billion in goods and services cross the border daily, supporting millions of jobs in both countries, according to Statistics Canada. Yet this commercial relationship increasingly exists alongside political and cultural distrust.
Urban-rural divides further complicate the picture. Rural Canadians, especially those in agricultural regions dependent on exports, show stronger pro-American sentiment than urban residents. “In Saskatchewan, we know our livelihoods depend on open markets,” explained wheat farmer Janet Morrison during a recent agricultural forum in Regina.
International relations experts point to several key inflection points that have damaged Canadian perceptions: the USMCA trade negotiations, American withdrawal from international agreements, and perceived American instability during recent election cycles.
“What we’re witnessing is a delayed reaction to years of relationship strain,” explained Dr. Laura Dawson, former director of the Canada Institute, when we discussed the poll results. “Canadians have traditionally given Americans the benefit of the doubt, but that reservoir of goodwill isn’t bottomless.”
The findings arrive as both countries prepare for potential leadership changes that could further test the relationship. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces elections by October 2025, while the upcoming U.S. presidential contest creates additional uncertainty about future cross-border dynamics.
Canadian government officials, speaking on background, express concern about this opinion shift but note that institutional connections remain robust. “The working relationships between our agencies, military, and business communities continue regardless of public sentiment,” one senior Global Affairs Canada official told me.
For ordinary citizens on both sides of the world’s longest undefended border, the poll results reflect a relationship that can no longer be taken for granted – a sobering reality for two nations whose histories and futures remain deeply intertwined despite growing uncertainty about what that means.
