465 new Canadian citizens sworn in at CNE as trade tensions with U.S. weigh on ceremony

Canada's tense tariff battle with the U.S. was on the minds of new Canadians in Toronto on Tuesday, as 465 people took their oath of citizenship at the Canadian National Exhibition. The CNE has hosted a citizenship ceremony annually for 26 years, but this year's celebration marked the Exhibition's biggest since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CNE CEO Mark Holland.

"It was a super emotional day to welcome these folks and to see all of their excitement to join the Canadian family," Holland told a reporter. "It's a stressful time to be a Canadian, so we got to have each other's backs."

The ceremony occurred just a day after Ontario Premier Doug Ford exchanged heated words with U.S. President Donald Trump over trade negotiations. Ford repeatedly said the president could "kiss my ass," while Trump called the premier "Flunky Ford" and threatened to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America." The U.S. had implemented 50 per cent tariffs on about $28 billion worth of Canadian goods on Saturday. Prime Minister Mark Carney later said retaliatory, dollar-for-dollar tariffs on the U.S. will take effect September 8.

For new citizen Karimat Okunlole, who moved to Canada 13 years ago, graduated from the University of British Columbia and worked as a structural designer for five years before obtaining citizenship Tuesday, Canada's response served as a point of pride. "I'm very proud of the way Canada stood up against our bullying neighbours," she said. "Although we're smaller than them, it's about being able to stand for your people and represent what we hold as most important. Together as Canadians, we all share the pride and identity of being Canadian."

Antonio Elias, a phone technician who has lived in Canada for almost four years after coming from Syria as a refugee, agreed now is the best time for Canadians to stand strong. "Since all these tariffs show up, the Canadians become more Canadian," he said. "The harmony between the people is stronger than any tariffs. It doesn't matter where we came from. We're all human and have the same essence inside us."

The 465 new citizens came from 57 different countries. Over 356,000 people on average became Canadian citizens annually through 2022-25, according to the federal government.