{
  "id": 2557189,
  "title": "Hit by Trump tariffs, Quebec loses appetite for quick separation from Canada",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/hit-by-trump-tariffs-quebec-loses-appetite-for-quick-separation-from",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-22T10:18:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/world-news/hit-by-trump-tariffs-quebec-loses-appetite-for-quick-separation-from-canada-4872328"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian steel in June 2020, a Quebec steel factory experienced a significant drop in orders within a week. The Heico Companies, a major employer in the region, laid off several dozen workers and froze hiring as a result. This factory’s struggles reflect broader anxiety over the impact of Trump's trade war on Quebec, which is preparing for a provincial election. However, support for Quebec's independence is at its lowest in decades, with only about 30% of residents expressing such support. David Jeannotte, an operations director at the affected factory, stated that as long as Trump remains in office, Quebec should remain within Canada to preserve its unique French culture. Many in the region echo this sentiment, arguing that the threat Trump poses to Canada suggests staying within the country is the best way to protect Quebec's distinct identity. Trump's threats of making Canada the 51st state, combined with tariffs, have sparked a surge of Canadian patriotism in Quebec, which is known for its long-standing separatist movement advocating for independence. While the separatist Parti Quebecois (PQ) currently holds a slim lead in provincial election polls, analysts believe a win would likely be motivated by dissatisfaction with the ruling party rather than a genuine endorsement of Quebec's independence. In a recent post on social media, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon acknowledged the risks Trump poses to Quebec's independence movement, vowing not to hold a third independence referendum while Trump is president. This acknowledgment of falling support for independence aligns with a broader pattern, where Trump's policies and rhetoric have undermined separatist causes in other regions, such as Scotland and Catalonia. A postponement of Quebec's sovereignty vote would be a relief for Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently won a national election by promising to be a tough negotiator with Trump. Carney also faces a separatist movement in oil-rich Alberta, with a referendum scheduled for mid-October. While Alberta's independence movement aligns with Trump's conservative values, Quebecers have largely supported Canada in opposing Trump's tariffs and annexation threats. According to recent data from Angus Reid, only 10% of Quebecers have a favorable view of Trump, and a deal to lower tariffs is unlikely to change public opinion. Jonathan Kalles, a former Quebec adviser to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, emphasized that Trump represents everything Quebec has fought against for the past 60 years, including efforts to create a modern, progressive society. Quebec's economy is heavily impacted by Trump's policies, with the province being one of the worst hit by the tariffs, particularly in industries like steel and aluminum. Marie-Anne Alepin, president of the separatist Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal, argued that Ottawa is not capable of defending Quebec's interests and that independence is necessary to ensure the province's voices are heard in negotiations.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}