It is a classic case of pathetic fallacy to have had Canada Day in the nation’s capital washed out with a once-in-a-lifetime deluge that had revelers scrambling for safety. Further to this, a local community committee for the holiday festivities in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s electoral riding of Nepean decided to throw in the towel for good, and with their resignations they announced the cancelation of their neighbourhood’s future Canada Day celebrations. Is it not hard to fathom a prime minister’s riding giving up on the country’s national day?
For more than a year now our prime minister has told us that the “the world is more dangerous and divided,” stating that Canadians’ fondness for the country’s closest ally and trading partner is a “weakness that we must correct.” In Carney’s world he has intimated we cannot trust America and that “There are no friends in the 2026 global economy.” Verily, in repeating this narrative ad nauseum, Canadians have come around to view the Carney-esque dark worldview: a Pew research poll found only 33 per cent of Canadians viewed the U.S. favourably (down from 54 per cent pre-Carney) and concluded, Canadians’ “confidence in Trump” is “well below the international median,” while “favourable views of the U.S.” are “at or near a record low.”
And as if by some self-fulfilling prophecy, Canadians were told on Canada Day that the American administration had given up on the Canadian trade negotiations and signaled they would not extend the CUSMA agreement. The Canadian business community will now need to manage the uncertainties that will undoubtedly result in annual Canada-U.S. trade talk reviews. It is becoming clearer though that the Carney government has been planning for a Canadian future without the U.S.; indeed, according to Carney his New World Order involves Brussels and Beijing, and not Washington. Last week on the eve of the American announcement Carney declared: “The next world order will likely be built out of Europe and Canada will be part of that effort.” So, it is full steam ahead with the MOUs involving Europe and the U.K., and full steam ahead with the Sino strategic partnership (although what is Canada to make of China’s own Canada Day announcement of imposing a 73.5 per cent tariff on Canadian pea starch to protect the Chinese domestic market?).
With the U.S. trade turmoil and unknowns involving Canada’s role in the New World Order, Canadians are increasingly anxious given the deteriorating state of the domestic economy and rising cost of living. Leading up to the nation’s 159th anniversary, there were 44 per cent of Canadians who said that the country is on the wrong track and another 14 per cent who were uncertain, according to an Abacus Data survey. The pollsters tell us that younger Canadians are focused on “affordability, housing, job security, and building a stable life;” middle-aged Canadians are the “most frustrated and politically unsettled;” and, seniors are supportive of the Carney government, viewing U.S. President Donald Trump as responsible for Canada’s economic challenges.
Whatever the focus, most agree that the Canadian economy is sagging. Pollster Nik Nanos says that Canadians see “dark economic clouds gathering” regarding jobs and the economy, and this speaks to “the pressure Canadians are under to pay for their groceries and now their gas.” In another poll, this one conducted by Leger, almost two in three (61 per cent) of Canadians viewed the economy as “poor” or “very poor” and only 15 per cent thought it would improve this year. United Way data reveals that the majority of Canadians (60 per cent) have anxiety and stress over their finances. Nearly two in five (38 per cent) are experiencing food insecurity and two in five (40 per cent) lose sleep due to financial strain.
The harsh economic realities that Canadians are experiencing have made them increasingly pessimistic about their prospects and the country. The Epoch Times recently surveyed more than 4,000 of their readership across Canada: “When you think about the life you’ve built in Canada — your family, your work, your values — how do you feel about your future ahead?” Three in five (60 per cent) were either pessimistic or concerned, and another 15 per cent were uncertain. This survey also found that 88 per cent of respondents did not believe the country was the Canada they grew up in, and 73 per cent have little to no faith that the country’s public institutions act in the best interests of Canadians.
Canadians’ perceptions about the economic quagmire the country is in has not improved with Carney’s leadership. In no meaningful way has the Carney government responded to the siren cries of the Bank of Canada in March 2024 when Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers stated that Canadians were facing a national crisis caused by long-standing, poor productivity. Recall Rogers saying, “You’ve seen those signs that say, ‘In emergency, break glass.’ Well, it’s time to break the glass.” This past year Carney has built new bureaucracies for housing, major projects, and defence procurement, but has yet to realize the promised growth.
Here is troubling data relating to the health of our economy. The Royal Bank of Canada report “Capital Gains: How Canada can unlock the $1.8 trillion it needs for growth” recounts Canada’s story of a decade of weak business investment, stalling productivity, and stagnating living standards. This has had alarming repercussions: “Between 2015 and 2024, more than $1 trillion of investment exited Canada—the largest capital exodus in Canadian history. For every dollar of inward FDI, two dollars exited.” Jordan Brennan, managing director at RBC Thought Leadership, observed, “The imbalance was what was striking. We’re exporting capital at scale at the same time that Canada is ranking dead last in the G7 when it comes to capital investment. Our investment in machinery, equipment and IP is half the United States’ level… We have missed the last 10 years. We missed that wave of investment and so it’s really on us now to change the playbook.”
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) published a report with data that revealed more businesses across the country have been closing than opening and, most distressingly, more than half of small business owners (55 per cent) would recommend against starting a business right now. CFIB states the hurdles to Canadian business success include “high costs, red tape, labour challenges, and never-ending uncertainty.”
Last week a KPMG survey was published that should shock Canadians. In response to the failed CUSMA negotiations, 42 per cent of Canadian businesses are either considering moving or have already relocated production to the U.S. Three in four businesses (77 per cent) state they expect to move production south of the border within the next two years. And there is further distress: nearly six in 10 companies (57 per cent) have paused or cut investments.
Canada’s rankings – both relating to its economic performance and standard of living – have been sliding for years. 1) Having reviewed 56 markets that represent more than 92 per cent of global wealth, Switzerland’s bank, UBS, recently reported in its “Global Wealth Report” that Canada is now the 13th wealthiest nation in the world, significantly lower than Americans and behind a number of European countries, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. 2) The 2025 international “World Happiest Report” documents Canada sliding down the countries’ rankings to 18th place, among the “largest losers” in the world from a decade earlier in 2015, when Canada was perched near the top in fifth position. 3) Here is another international ranking, “The List of Best Countries” factored with data from the United Nations and the OEDC, which reports that Canada has dropped like a stone to 19th spot from its previous top five positions in recent years. This year our country showed poorly in economic development (21st), infrastructure (20th), health (27th), and civic health which includes the country’s capacity to manage its population growth (27th).
Returning to recent Abacus data, one in seven (16 per cent) polled think Canada is in danger of breaking apart and one in four Canadians are not confident that Canada will still be a country in 50 years. There is much to fuel this dark perspective: we are a divided and bickering country with two separatist movements and with divisive pro- and anti-pipeline premiers and people. There is a growing disparity with our personal financial situation – a rising food bank usage and homelessness, and a record level of insolvencies. Many have concerns about personal safety with a lack of faith in the judicial system and cities experiencing unprecedented crime and a disturbing number of street protests. Then there is the continued mass immigration policies of the Carney government that is placing increasing strain on housing, health care and social services.
It is all greatly troubling, and yet the silver lining in the Abacus data tells us that Trump has been a unifying force in this past year. Elbows up – higher! Canadians have never been as proud to be Canadian as we are now (77 per cent, an increase of 12 points in two years). It is remarkable that one in two Canadians (48 per cent) say that “being distinct from the U.S. is something that makes them proud.” As Abacus pollsters Eddie Sheppard and David Coletto state this is “a somewhat unusual moment. Canadians appear to be thinking more consciously about Canada itself.”
As a parting thought, recall when former prime minister Justin Trudeau defined being Canadian as “Well, we’re not American,” and consider the irony in the fact that Trump has galvanized a spirit of nationalism among Canadians.
Chris George is an advocate, government relations advisor, and writer/copy editor. As president of a public relations firm established in 1994, Chris provides discreet counsel, tactical advice and management skills to CEOs/Presidents, Boards of Directors and senior executive teams in executing public and government relations campaigns and managing issues. Prior to this PR/GR career, Chris spent seven years on Parliament Hill on staffs of Cabinet Ministers and MPs. He has served in senior campaign positions for electoral and advocacy campaigns at every level of government. Today, Chris resides in Almonte, Ontario where he and his wife manage www.cgacommunications.com. Contact Chris at chrisg.george@gmail.com.
