Canadians prefer stability over renegotiation
When asked how Canada should approach the existing agreement, 52 per cent of respondents said they support continuing under current terms. Twenty-four per cent would favour renegotiation, even if the resulting deal were less favourable, a position that underscores just how strongly Canadians value the certainty of the existing framework. Only seven per cent favour leaving the agreement altogether.
That 2-to-1 preference for stability over renegotiation is a signal worth noting for advisors advising clients on cross-border investment exposure or currency risk. The political appetite for disruption appears limited.
On Canada-US relations more broadly, the survey found that 69 per cent of Canadians prefer their leaders to resist making trade concessions, even if doing so results in a worsening of the bilateral relationship. Only 23 per cent favour seeking improved relations through concessions, a 3-to-1 margin in favour of holding firm.
British Columbia respondents rate the European Union as the most economically important trading relationship, with 71 per cent calling it “very important”, higher than any other province. Atlantic Canadians show the highest degree of U.S. skepticism, with 12.6 per cent saying the US relationship is “not very important” economically.
Age also shapes perspectives. Canadians aged 55 and older are more bullish on CUSMA, with 86.6 per cent rating it positively compared to 72.3 per cent among those aged 18 to 34.