But ‘Canadians are not substantially more optimistic about the direction of the country’
Concern over Donald Trump and his administration has surged among Canadians, a signal that political and trade tension with the United States shows little sign of easing and could keep affecting staffing, supply chains and cross-border business planning.
A new Abacus Data survey released August 30, 2026, found 45% of Canadians now name Trump among the three most important issues facing the country, up seven points in two weeks.
Trump placed second only to the rising cost of living, cited by 62% of respondents, and ahead of the economy at 39%, housing affordability at 30% and healthcare at 29%, according to Abacus Data. Respondents could select up to three issues, so totals exceed 100%.
Business groups warned of "immediate and significant" fallout for small firms as Ontario, Quebec and B.C. face the steepest job losses amid the breakdown of trade talks between Canada and the U.S., according to a previous report.
Trump is now the most frequently cited concern in Quebec specifically, where 63% of respondents named him a top-three issue, up from 52% two weeks earlier — a jump employers with Quebec operations should note given the province's distinct labour and language-law environment.
Abacus Data CEO David Coletto said the shift reflects the immediate political moment. "This survey was fielded as trade talks collapsed, U.S. tariffs took effect, and Canada announced retaliation," Coletto said. "I think this data reflect that moment: mentions of Trump as a top issue jumped seven points to 45%, government approval rose to 56%, and the Liberals opened a ten-point lead."
Trade dispute overlaps with Lake Ontario naming row
The Abacus Data survey was completed before President Trump escalated a separate dispute over the name of Lake Ontario. Trump signed an executive order last week directing U.S. federal agencies to refer to the lake — shared by Canada and the United States — as "Lake America," and Google Maps began showing the new name to American users while Canadian users continued to see "Lake Ontario."
Prime Minister Carney rejected the renaming, telling reporters the name "Ontario" derives from a Wendat word that has been in use for more than 400 years, predating both Canadian Confederation and U.S. independence.
Trump also posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social over the weekend depicting an armed goose army guarding "Lake America," followed by a second clip replacing a "Welcome to Lake Ontario" sign, according to separate reports. In a related post, Trump wrote that "Canada has been ripping us off for years—NO LONGER!" while claiming Canadian firms were relocating south of the border.
“Despite the movement in vote intention and government approval, Canadians are not substantially more optimistic about the direction of the country,” according to the Abacus Data report.
Views of the United States also remained negative: Only 11% believe the U.S. is heading in the right direction, while 82% say it is on the wrong track.
The collapse of Canada–U.S. trade talks in the early hours of Aug. 22 has set off a wave of alarm across Canadian business communities, with an analysis suggesting roughly 87,000 Canadian jobs could be at risk because of the new 50-per-cent tariffs on Canadian goods. Then, Canada moved to impose sweeping counter-tariffs on approximately $27.6 billion worth of American goods on Tuesday.
