Some southern neighbours support Canadian counterparts amid tariff and takeover threats
'I want to be your emotional support American,' says Washington state resident Suzanne Wheeler
There's no denying things are pretty weird between Canada and the U.S. right now.
Canada's federal government has historically described its partnership with the U.S. as "forged by shared geography, similar values, common interests, strong personal connections and powerful, multi-layered economic ties."
President Donald Trump started threatening Canada — and other parts of the world — with tariffs and takeovers before he even took office, and it's left a sour taste in Canadians' mouths. Residents have banded together to buy Canadian products and cancel trips to the U.S., and politicians are announcing retaliatory measures against the States.
Although the Canada-U.S. relationship certainly feels fractured, Washingtonians are voicing their support for their British Columbian counterparts and hoping the cross-border connection can endure whatever political fallout may come.
Brian Calder, a dual-citizen living in Point Roberts, worries that his community is in a particularly unique position and could be in trouble if the trade relationship between his two countries breaks down.
Calder said Point Roberts has had a "long and healthy" relationship with Delta, B.C., just across the border, as well as Metro Vancouver and the province as a whole.
"We're supported, not just emotionally … and economically, but Greater Vancouver supplies us with potable water and electricity, which we pay for," he told CBC's On The Coast host Gloria Macarenko. "Without it, we wouldn't have it. We'd have to get generator sets. We'd have to try to bring water from Blaine along the nine miles of ocean floor."
He's not the only Washington resident who values B.C.; Suzanne Wheeler travels north from Blaine to Vancouver every Wednesday to listen to live music at Frankie's Jazz Club.
Wheeler grew up on the American side of Niagara Falls, but she said when she skipped school, she'd head for the Canadian side.
She's involved in her local music scene, which includes several Canadian artists.
"I listen to CBC Listen," she said. "As far as cross-border support, CBC got me through Jan. 6. And one of the DJs even said, 'Let us be your emotional support Canadians.' I want to be your emotional support American."
As an American, she said she fully supports Canada boycotting American vacations and products.
"Sink into what ... it means to you to be Canadian," Wheeler said. "That's why I decided if we're threatening tariffs, I'm going to bring my dollars directly to Canada. I'm going to come every week, and I'm going to enjoy jazz."
An online Angus Reid poll of Americans, from Jan. 10 to 13, 2025, found that 77 per cent of those surveyed viewed Canada favourably, and more than 80 per cent see Canada as a valued partner and ally, or at least a country that the U.S. is on friendly terms with.
Further, the survey found that 77 per cent of respondents believe that if Trump is indeed serious about Canada becoming part of the U.S., it should be Canada's choice to do so — and Canadians, in general, have been largely against becoming the 51st state.
The Angus Reid online survey was conducted among a representative randomized sample of 1,716 American adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum USA. A probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
'Good neighbours'
Premier David Eby has repeatedly acknowledged the importance of partnerships between B.C. and the West Coast states.
"Canadians and Americans have always been friends and good neighbours," he said during a Feb. 1 media availability.
He acknowledged, specifically, how, in 1964, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Columbia River Treaty, requiring Canada to control the flow of the river via dams to meet U.S. needs for hydropower and flood prevention.
[In] one of his last acts as governor of Washington state, Governor Jay Inslee travelled to Langford to pay respects to our dearly departed friend, Premier John Horgan," Eby added.
Eby said he's had to contact the western state governor to explain the impact Trump's proposed tariffs would have on B.C., as well as their own constituents, hoping to acquire and maintain their support for British Columbia.
Whether their politicians support B.C. or not, Calder said his community does and isn't afraid to show it: he just printed a bumper sticker that reads "Points Roberts, Washington supports Canada."
"I've ordered a hundred of them, and so when we drive into Delta that we're showing even with our U.S. plates, we're supporting Canada from Point Roberts."
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