The specter of Donald Trump’s threatened 25% tariffs on Canadian goods may have been temporarily shelved, but the drama has reignited deep-seated regional tensions within Canada.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s approach to the issue has underscored the province’s growing sense of alienation from the rest of the country, even as Ontarians report feeling more respected than ever.
Smith, hesitant to put Alberta’s resource-rich economy on the bargaining table, diverged from the otherwise unified stance among Canadian provinces in response to Trump’s latest trade threats.
Her decision echoes long-held frustrations in Alberta, where only 29% of residents feel their province is respected by the rest of Canada, according to new data from the Angus Reid Institute.
That figure is the lowest nationwide and a sharp drop from 45% in 2016.
The alienation felt in Alberta is part of a broader regional divide.
While Saskatchewan (39%) and Atlantic Canada (36%) also report significant dissatisfaction, Ontario (64%) and British Columbia (67%) stand in stark contrast, with strong majorities feeling their provinces receive adequate respect.
The disparity is striking, especially as Ontario has seen a five-point increase in positive sentiment since 2016.
The latest data also highlights the enduring resonance of Western Canada’s grievances. Despite the long shadow cast by the Reform Party's rise in the 1990s, a recent Angus Reid study found a renewed openness among voters to the idea of a “Western Canada Party.”
These divisions were on full display during the fallout from Trump’s tariff threats. While Ontario Premier Doug Ford framed the issue as a national challenge requiring solidarity, Smith’s focus on Alberta’s resource sector reflected her province’s wariness of Ottawa’s ability to represent Western interests effectively.
