Why 74% of Canadians Fear a Devastating Auto Sector Collapse

Canadians Rally to Protect Auto Jobs in Trade Negotiations

A recent Pollara survey reveals that Canadians overwhelmingly support the protection of Canadian auto jobs and other key industrial sectors. The nationwide poll indicates that three-in-four (74%) believe a collapse of the Canadian auto sector would have a devastating impact on the economy.

Strong Opposition to Sacrificing Auto Sector for Trade Deals

Importantly, 70% of Canadians feel that Canada should not sacrifice the auto sector to secure a good trade deal with the US. This sentiment is even stronger in Ontario, where the figure rises to 75%.

Lana Payne, Unifor National President, stated, "Canadians fully understand the significance of this U.S. attack on Canadian workers, their communities, and the country’s entire industrial base. As a nation, it’s clear that we do not want to back down and allow Trump to kill Canadian auto and manufacturing jobs."

Poll Details and Broader Industry Concerns

The Pollara poll, commissioned by Unifor and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, surveyed over 2,700 people from October 11 to October 20, 2025.

Flavio Volpe, President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, emphasized, "Canadian automotive suppliers invest billions of dollars annually in advanced manufacturing work that helps keep this country globally competitive. Canadians understand that this is under threat from abroad due to the high-level employment and economic benefits."

Facing targeted tariffs and rising global uncertainty, Canadians expressed clear concern for key industries. 78% worry about the future of the auto sector, tied with forestry (78%), and closely followed by steel (76%), aluminum (74%), and oil and gas (73%).

Impact on Forestry and Other Sectors

Unifor represents 24,000 forestry sector members across 10 Canadian provinces. As of October 14, 2025, the combined general softwood duty rate exceeds 45% after the US imposed new Section 232 tariffs, with further increases planned for certain products in January 2026.

In June 2025, the US increased tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel from 25% to 50% under Section 232, classifying these imports as a national security threat.

Calls for Strategic Trade Negotiations

Unifor has cautioned the federal government against entering into piecemeal trade negotiations with the US, warning that this could weaken Canada’s bargaining position and surrender critical leverage in sectors like steel, aluminum, and energy before comprehensive agreements are reached in auto and forestry.

Lana Payne added, "Canadians know that Trump’s attacks don’t end at our auto industry—they are concerned about how these other key sectors in his crosshairs will create instability and threaten our jobs. This is an overall attack on Canada’s industrial base."

Additional Poll Findings

The poll also revealed that:

• 63% of Canadians (including 80% of Liberal voters) believe the Government of Canada should provide financial support to keep the auto sector afloat during the trade war with the US.
• Two-in-three (67%) Canadians would boycott or consider boycotting a company that moved its operations from Canada to the US due to tariffs.

For more details, view the full poll findings.