Author: Dr. Loleen Berdahl
Western Canadians are generally positive about international trade. The majority of western Canadians feels that expanding international trade is a very high or high priority, and western Canadians believe that free trade has been very or somewhat good for Canada in a number of ways. In particular, large corporations, consumers and the economy are seen as beneficiaries of increased international trade. Western Canadians clearly value the Canada-US economic relationship, as almost three-quarters of western Canadians feel that the relationship should either be made stronger or kept at its current level. Western Canadians are also supportive of government-led trade missions to promote Canadian business, and of the removal of interprovincial trade barriers within Canada.
At the same time, not all trade attitudes are overwhelmingly positive. In every province, western Canadians are more likely to say increased international trade has been bad for Canada’s environment. Additionally, a significant number of western Canadians feel that increased international trade has been bad for Canadian workers, for Canada’s social programs, and for Canadian culture.
On many trade issues, there is a clear BC-prairie province divide, with BC residents being less likely to see the impacts of trade as positive, and less likely to desire a stronger economic relationship with the United States. At the same time, BC residents are the most supportive of the removal of interprovincial trade barriers within Canada.