Trade Talks: British Columbians oppose concessions to US

As British Columbians wait to see details on a supposed trade "deal" with the United States and whether Ottawa is making concessions to Donald Trump, a new poll from Leger reports that a majority of British Columbians oppose giving anything to the Americans in response to threats.

When asked if the Canadian government should "take a hard line and make no more concessions," 56% of British Columbians said they agreed with the statement, with only 28% saying Ottawa should be flexible and make concessions if needed. A further 16% said they were unsure.

British Columbians showed widespread support for a number of retaliatory measures against the United States, including for a tax on electricity sold to the US (78%), restricting US-owned companies from bidding on government contracts (75%), a tax on oil and gas exports to the US (72%), the ban on the sale of US liquor (64%), a tax on potash exports to the US (67%), and tariffs on a broad range of US-made goods (57%). A minority support a tax on US streaming services (44%) and a tariff on fruits and vegetables imported from the US (46%).

Further emphasizing how British Columbians are not in a mood for giving up anything to the Americans, Leger provided a list of possible areas of compromise. Fifty per cent of British Columbians said they were supportive of opening up Canadian air travel to American airlines, while 42% said they would support allowing US telecom companies access to the Canadian market.

Only 30% of British Columbians said they would be willing to put US alcohol back on the shelves. Twenty-six per cent said they would like to see Ottawa make concessions on supply managed agriculture to allow more imports of American dairy and poultry, while 25% said they would allow US banks more access to the Canadian market.

When asked about how the Canadian Government has handled negotiations thus far, 30% of British Columbians say the Government has been "too passive," with 21% saying Ottawa has been too "aggressive." Thirty-four per cent say the Government has Canadian has been "balanced," with a further 15% saying they are unsure.

And while details of a new trade deal are not yet known, a plurality of 46% of British Columbians say that there should be a federal election so Canadians can have their say on the "deal," with 38% saying a federal election is not needed. A further 16% said they were unsure.

Methodology: Leger conducted an online survey from August 15 to 17, 2026, among 1,622 Canadian residents aged 18 and older. Respondents were randomly recruited through Leger’s LEO online panel and could complete the survey in English or French. Results were weighted according to age, gender, mother tongue, region, education and the presence of children in the household to ensure a representative sample of the Canadian population. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error no greater than ±2.4%, 19 times out of 20.