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Inside Job – The Canadian backlash against Trump’s Tariffs: Are we missing the bigger picture?

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

The recent threats of 25% tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump have struck a nerve with Canadians. A new Ipsos poll for Global News found that 68% of Canadians now view the United States in a more negative light, with nearly half of respondents—46%—strongly holding this perception.

Beyond a shift in sentiment, Trump’s threats have ignited a powerful economic and political response within Canada. The emergence of a “Buy Canadian” movement underscores a broader trend: two-thirds of Canadians plan to avoid purchasing U.S.-made goods, and nearly half (45%) are choosing to bypass travel to the U.S. altogether. The resentment appears particularly pronounced among older Canadians—those aged 55 and above—who have witnessed decades of cooperative bilateral relations now seemingly unraveling under Trump’s leadership.

The economic concerns are also deeply personal. Nearly 60% of Canadians believe that their financial stability is at risk due to the proposed tariffs, further amplifying fears about Canada’s future economic independence. However, in our rush to condemn Trump, we may be overlooking a deeper, more insidious issue.

Trump’s aggressive stance toward Canada is undeniable, but the media’s framing of the situation cannot be ignored. News outlets thrive on polarization stoking outrage to keep audiences engaged. While Trump’s rhetoric and policy decisions are certainly troubling, we must ask ourselves: Are we being presented with the full picture? Have our own leaders done enough to mitigate the crisis that we are facing as a country, or are they also complicit in policies that have left Canada economically vulnerable?

“Instead of allowing emotions to dictate our responses, we must demand transparency from our country’s leader.”

The reality is that Canada has long been economically intertwined with the United States. Our dependence on American markets and trade agreements places us in a precarious position when relations sour. But should our anger be solely directed at Trump? Or should we also be questioning our own government about other things…

That’s right! We are not always getting the full report on the state of our nation. Instead of allowing emotions to dictate our responses, we must demand transparency from our country’s leader. This includes scrutinizing not just Trump’s policies, but also the actions—or inactions—of Canadian leadership.

According to a recent Stats Canada report, 5.8 million people in the provinces face food insecurities, and approximately 1.2 million use food banks. Over 60% of households relying on social assistance, face food insecurities. Over half of all the food-insecure households in Canada are working folks.

One in five children living in the provinces lives in food-insecure households, and over 30% of Indigenous households are living in food insecurity. It is important to note that these numbers are not an accurate representation of the real status of food insecurity in Canada as the data only includes the ten provinces.

These numbers do not include people who live in the territories, people living on First Nation reserves, or homeless people. However, these groups are at the highest risk of food insecurity in Canada. Yes, you heard me right, in Canada.

The average Canadian can hardly afford rent, and mortgages are out of reach for such a person. An Ipsos poll conducted just over a year ago supported this shameful fact. “Instead of the dream of homeownership, it is turning into a nightmare for an entire generation of Canadians,” the words of Sean Simpson, Ipsos’ vice-president of public affairs. The Ipsos poll, which surveyed 1,500 adults, found 71% of respondents live in communities where housing crises are prevalent.

This country is under rapid inflation as we speak, and many people are facing homelessness including senior citizens, yet Canada’s government has somehow found millions to spend on things in countries around the world, even though most of its citizens wallow in abject poverty at home.

Today, we want to report on this misuse of Canadian tax dollars, a topic that is largely ignored in the news. CANADA’S GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT:

  • 5 million on accessing reproductive health in Mozambique
  • 21 million for access to judicial services in Haiti
  • 12 million for access to health funds in Myanmar
  • 15 million for access to health rights in Burkina Faso
  • 10 million for the elimination of gender-based violence in Benin
  • 18 million for accelerating business growth in East Africa
  • 2 million for a gender-responsive system approach to health care in the Philippines
  • 5 million for advancing gender, resilience, equality, and inclusion worldwide
  • 2 million for advancing gender equality and women empowerment in Africa

According to patriotism resurgence, Global Affairs Canada has scrubbed its website of the above information, but with technology being the way it is, this was redeemed so that Canadians can be informed.

This is over 115 million dollars in Canadian taxpayer’s money. Money that was spent on things if investigated, will prove that the majority of Canadians were not consulted on and certainly did not approve of.

Let us think for a moment about what this kind of money can do for poor Canadian families, homeless, and elderly people who are barely getting by, and while we are at it, ask ourselves why is this government doing this? How come we as Canadians are forced to face hardship while the government uses our money on other nations’ affairs?

Canada’s health care system is in a sorry state. Canadians are forced to wait for months if not years for some simple medical treatments. Some patients who are seriously ill are dying as a result of being unable to access timely health attention in this country. Meanwhile, this government is busy playing saviour to other nations.

What’s more insulting is that this information is being scrubbed from public view, why? Because the government knows that what they are doing is simply wrong. As Canadians this needs to be confronted.

Yes, the current political environment is frustrating, and your frustration is justified, but it is critical to ensure that our outrage is rooted in informed analysis rather than media-driven hysteria. The Canadian public deserves the full truth—not just a version designed to provoke anger. As we navigate these economic uncertainties, we must hold Canadian leaders accountable, ensuring that our nation remains resilient in the face of geopolitical turbulence.

REFERENCES:

https://globalnews.ca/tag/ipsos

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Written By

In his new role as a reporter and Journalist, Michael can he be described in two words: brilliant, and relentless. Michael Thomas aka Redman was born in Grenada, and at an early age realized his love for music. He began his musical journey as a reggae performer with the street DJs and selectors. After he moved to Toronto in 1989, he started singing with the calypso tents, and in 2008, and 2009 he won the People’s Choice Award and the coveted title of Calypso Monarch. He has taken this same passion, and has begun to focus his attention on doing working within the community.

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