The issue has made way for a surge of patriotism in Canada – notably uniting people from all political stripes at a time when the country had been deeply divided over the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his policies.

A “Buy Canadian” sentiment has been pushed by politicians and the general public, with shoppers wanting to support local businesses and avoid purchasing US-made products in protest over the potential tariffs.

Carole Chandler, a 67-year-old retired public school teacher from Halifax, said that she, like Ms Morelli, had cancelled an upcoming holiday to Florida.

“I love America and Americans,” she tells the BBC. “But I don’t want to be one.”

Even with the temporary pause on tariffs, some Canadian provinces are still pushing ahead with “Buy Local” campaigns to encourage people to spend their dollars closer to home.

On Wednesday, Manitoba’s premier Wab Kinew said his province will be spending C$140,000 ($97,800; £78,200) on advertising – including on billboards and radio – to push Manitobans to contribute to their local economy.

Provinces are also removing barriers to trade internally within Canada, and many are calling for the country to diversify its trade relationship and build ties elsewhere.

Kinew described the back and forth on the potential tariff war between the US and Canada as akin to “whiplash”.

“But through it all, to see people come together and to rally around the flag, to put the Manitoba pride first and foremost, has been very encouraging,” Kinew said.

Ms Kurl noted that the Canada-US relationship has endured for centuries, and the two countries have long been close allies and partners on the world stage.

“It’s quite an enmeshed relationship,” she said.

Canadians share not only deep economic ties with the US, but also familial bonds and the world’s longest land border. The US has also long been the top travel destination for Canadians.

She said it would not be easy to untangle those ties, and it remains to be seen whether the recent sentiments over Trump’s tariffs signal a fundamental shift between the two countries.

A lot of it, she added, could depend on how the relationship with the current US president progresses, and whether the tariff threat materialises.

As Canadians wait and see what happens, they said they were looking to support their own however they can.

“We don’t put on big displays like Americans do,” said Ms Chandler from Halifax.

But Canadian patriotism runs deep, she said.