Trump's Tariffs Wipe Out Separatist Sentiment in Quebec

When US President Donald Trump levied 50% tariffs on Canadian steel in June last year, Quebec's economy took a hit. The Heico Companies, a steel factory in Quebec, lost about a third of its orders for bolts and fasteners in under a week. The company froze hiring, closed a plant, and laid off dozens of people, including the operations director's brother.

The factory's troubles reflect broader anxiety over Trump's trade war in Quebec, which is due to hold a provincial election by October 5. While previous economic slowdowns have prompted an increase in separatist sentiment, polls show that this time around, support for an independent Quebec is at its lowest level in decades, at about 30%.

David Jeannotte, operations director of The Heico Companies, said, 'As long as Trump will be in his chair, I don't feel that we even need to talk about that.' Others in the region are echoing Jeannotte's concerns, saying the threat Trump poses to Canada means the best way to preserve Quebec's unique French culture is to stay within Canada.

The separatist Parti Quebecois currently holds a slim lead in provincial election polls and a win would mark the party's return to power after a dozen years. However, analysts say a vote for the party would be more about disappointment with the ruling party than an endorsement of the PQ's independence platform.