Hours after being thrust into a trade war, a group of angry Canadians made their frustrations known outside the U.S. consulate in downtown Vancouver on Tuesday.
Among them was Tom Hetherington, who denounced the “horrible” and “disgusting” tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“I think, in my stomach, the whole Trump election and the resulting actions are a betrayal,” he said.
Justin Muir was also among the dozens of protesters who rallied to show their displeasure with Trump’s trade war.
“I feel very anxious about the tariffs that were put in place today,” said Muir.
Most Canadian goods flowing across the border will be hit with a 25 per cent tariff, while Canadian energy will be subject to a 10 per cent tariff.
Protesters raised concerns about how the new measures will impact Canadian manufacturers, potentially putting many jobs in jeopardy.
“‘I’m just one of the people who are really angry that Trump and Elon Musk are getting away with this in the States,” said Jane Thomas, another attendee.
Organizers said the demonstration is for people to voice their opposition to the tariffs and take a stand against Trump’s threat to turn Canada into the “51st State.”
A similar rally was held in Ottawa Tuesday afternoon, with protestors holding signs that said “Canada is not for sale.”
