OTTAWA – A new national survey reveals that a strong majority of Canadians support Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to diversify the national economy and shield it from the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies. According to the latest data from a CityNews/Canada Pulse Insights poll, 67% of Canadians approve of Carney’s strategic shift toward economic “strategic autonomy.” The Prime Minister’s “Buy Canadian” stance—aimed at reducing dependence on foreign trade in the face of 100% tariff threats from Washington—has found particular resonance in regions traditionally skeptical of federal policy.
The poll highlights a broad coalition of support across the country, with the highest approval ratings coming from Quebec at 72%. Even in the energy-rich West, Carney’s policies are gaining significant traction, with 66% of Albertans and 60% of residents in Saskatchewan and Manitoba agreeing with the Prime Minister’s approach. Analysts suggest that Carney’s commitment to “shovels in the ground” infrastructure projects and his responsiveness to provincial needs have bridged traditional partisan divides, with approximately 66% of respondents believing the Prime Minister is effectively delivering on the specific requirements of their respective provinces.
Carney’s international standing also remains high, with 70% of Canadians expressing satisfaction with his representation of the country among world leaders. His recent address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland—where he famously declared that “the old world order is not coming back” and urged middle powers to unite—has been cited as a defining moment in his premiership. Many Canadians believe that despite international threats, Carney is successfully prioritizing and protecting the nation’s interests on the global stage.
Despite the overall positive sentiment, the poll identified a notable pocket of dissatisfaction among Canadians aged 35 to 54. This demographic expressed the highest levels of concern, primarily driven by the rising cost of living and inflation that has made daily life increasingly difficult. While they broadly support the long-term goal of economic diversification, this group is calling for more immediate government intervention to address affordability. As the Carney government moves forward with its trillion-dollar investment plan in energy and infrastructure, the challenge remains to balance these long-term “nation-building” goals with the immediate economic relief demanded by the middle class.
