Canada's Carney defies Trump as approval rating surges to 62%

Mark Carney's approval rating has surged after he confronted US tariff demands with retaliatory measures, signaling strong public backing for a tougher line toward Washington.

The Angus Reid Institute said on the 8th that 62% of Canadians approved of Carney's performance, an 11-point increase from the previous month. The figure nearly matches his record high of 63%, recorded after he proposed a coalition of middle powers against major-power overreach at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January.

The survey indicated that Carney had built majority support across Canada, with Saskatchewan the only exception. The backing crossed party lines, according to the analysis cited in the report.

Canadians remained divided about the country's position in trade talks. Thirty-four percent said Canada was at a disadvantage, compared with 31% who said it was in a favorable position. Even so, the figures showed strong support for the prime minister's hard-line response, despite the report noting that the burden on households was becoming a reality.