Survey reveals confusion, concern among Edmonton residents over U.S. tariffs
The Canadian flag and Alberta provincial flags wave outside the Legislature in Edmonton amid ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the United States. The economic ripple effects are expected to impact national industries and Alberta’s export-dependent economy. Photo: Jo Clark/The Edmonton Edge.
A recent survey conducted by journalism students at MacEwan University has revealed that while most Edmonton residents are aware of U.S.-imposed tariffs on Canada, many feel uninformed about their broader implications and want the government to provide clearer communication.
The survey, which gathered responses from 72 participants, found that 75 per cent of respondents said they were familiar with U.S. tariffs and their effects, while 25 per cent admitted they were unaware of the issue. However, despite this familiarity, a significant 83.3 per cent of respondents indicated that they find the topic of tariffs too complex to fully understand.
The results reflect the opinions of the respondents and do not represent the findings of a scientific study. The survey was conducted through an online questionnaire that asked participants about their knowledge of U.S. tariffs, their concerns regarding the impact on the Canadian economy, and whether they felt the government provided sufficient information on the issue.
These concerns were echoed in the responses, with many participants citing increased prices for goods and services, potential job losses, strained international relations, and a lack of government transparency as their top worries.
According to Constantain Colonescu, a MacEwan University economics professor, the situation is likely to worsen as tariffs drive up inflation and slow economic growth, potentially leading to job losses and reduced consumer spending.
For Jeffrey Rice, another MacEwan professor of global politics, the “arbitrary nature of the tariffs” have already damaged trust between the two countries and could lead to a gradual decoupling of the two economies. “The problem, at least at the moment, is that there is no strong (or even weak) rationale for Canada to trust the United States administration again,” he said.
While academics point to inflation, economic decoupling and trust issues as key risks, the survey reveals a more immediate concern among Edmonton residents; most saying they don’t understand what tariffs mean, and feel the government isn’t helping to clarify.
Lack of government communication a major concern
A notable finding from the survey was that 88.9 per cent of respondents believe the Canadian government does not provide enough clear information about tariffs and their effects.
Only 11.1 per cent felt that the government adequately informs the public.
Several respondents expressed frustration with the lack of accessible information. One participant said, “The government could be doing more to explain them [tariffs] and why they are such a harm to the economy. I’d like to learn more.”
Another respondent highlighted the practical implications of tariffs on everyday life, saying, “I am very interested in this topic. This situation literally determines how I’m going to live through some of the future and I want to know how much my life will be affected.”
Tariffs seen as driving up cost of living
When asked about the impact of tariffs on the cost of goods and services in Canada, most respondents perceived a significant effect. On a scale of one to five, with five being the highest impact, 47 of the 72 participants rated the impact at four or five.
One respondent likened the complexity of following tariff policies to watching a foreign language drama, noting, “If you miss a single minute of what’s going on, you miss everything. The topic is too complex and complicated to stay in the loop and keep up with what’s going on.”
Small business owners like Erin Dykstra, who runs a backyard birding shop in Edmonton, say the effects of tariff tensions are already being felt. “The biggest thing that has impacted us so far is the stress of uncertainty,” she said. “Directly, the U.S. import tariffs don’t affect us other than threatening that general downturn in the economy that nobody wants.”
Dykstra explained that many of the U.S. products on her shelves, including bird feeders and houses, are ordered months in advance, making it difficult to adjust quickly to shifting sentiment or cost changes. “Consumer sentiment has changed so very quickly, and it’s hard to keep up as a retailer,” she said.
Many say they want to learn more about tariffs
Despite the confusion and frustration expressed, 43 respondents (59.7 per cent) said they were interested in learning more about U.S. tariffs and their implications. Reasons for wanting to learn more ranged from a desire to better understand the impact on daily life to concerns about how tariffs might affect Canadian businesses.
“Yes, especially as to how they will impact small Canadian businesses!” one respondent noted.
However, 18 respondents (25 per cent) expressed no interest in further learning, with some citing “news fatigue” or a feeling of helplessness in influencing government decisions. One participant commented, “No, because I already know about tariffs,” while another said, “Normal people have no impact on the tariffs itself.”
A small but significant percentage (15.3 per cent) of respondents remained undecided or indifferent.
Graphic by Aislinn Willis/Edmonton Edge.
Complexity of tariffs leaves many feeling uninformed
The survey highlighted a broader challenge for policymakers and media organizations, the complexity of tariffs leaves many citizens feeling disengaged or underinformed. Respondents expressed a need for simpler, clearer explanations of how tariffs work and their direct impact on consumers and businesses.
As one respondent summarized, “Yes. It is going to impact us whether we like it or not, but if there were clearer guidelines on how tariffs work, I think more people would be interested.”
Call for better public education on economic policy
The survey findings suggest that public confusion about tariffs stems not just from their complexity, but from a broader gap in how such issues are communicated. This gpa, according to Trisha Sarker, a professor of professional communication, is where the government is falling short.
“We have a tendency to just call it a tariff and not further explain it in the way that individuals need to understand it,” she said, pointing out that unfamiliar language and lack of context often leave people disconnected from key economic decisions.
Sarker believes the Canadian government must adopt a more engaging and accessible communication strategy, moving beyond static website updates to include press conferences, videos, and simple relatable language. “Have somebody speak about that tariff, not just like the number but like what it means,” she said. “[Make] it part of a regular news cycle.”
She also emphasized the importance of tone and delivery. “Explain it like I’m a third grader, but don’t talk down to me,” she said, calling for a clear, structured messaging that informs without overwhelming.
Beyond public outreach, Sarker suggested starting economic education earlier. This, she argued, would help ensure that individuals are not left to try to make sense of complex policies tariffs later in life without necessary background.
