Canada's vengeful boycott of major US industry spirals with $4billion and 28K jobs at risk
By Alice Wright
Daily Mail
Apr 10, 2025
President Donald Trump vowed to crack down on border crossings. Canadians responded — by keeping their dollars at home.
Visits to the US dropped off a cliff following Trump's threats of annexation and aggressive tariff pressure from Washington.
The number of Canadians making trips to the US by car dropped 32 percent in March compared to a year ago, according to new Statistics Canada figures.
It marked the third straight month of declines — including a 23 percent plunge from the month before.
Air travel also took a hit, down 13.5 percent in March year-over-year.
Trump has slapped sweeping tariffs on Canada — targeting steel, aluminum, and vehicles — and even threatened to make it the '51st state.'
In response, a grassroots 'Buy Canada' movement has gained steam, encouraging shoppers to swap American products for homegrown ones.
Canadians have long been the top international travelers to the US, driving $20.5 billion in spending last year.
Palm Springs, a desert oasis in Coachella Valley, has become growingly concerned that the US' strained relationship with Canada will impact the city's tourism industry
Canadians are cutting back on trips to the US, and taking vacations elsewhere
Even a 10 percent dip could wipe out $2 billion in economic activity and cost 14,000 jobs, according to the US Travel Association.
With the latest car and air travel figures pointing to even steeper declines, the impact could be closer to $4 billion.
Tourist hotspots that rely heavily on Canadian visitors, such as Buffalo, New York and Old Orchard Beach in Maine, will be hit hardest.
Some hotspots such as Palm Springs in California have even hung signs begging Canadians not to boycott them.
'The City of Palm Springs loves our Canadian friends and neighbors,' the city declared in a Saturday Facebook post featuring the posters.
Each year, roughly 300,000 tourists flock from Canada to the sunny desert city, with many staying for months at a time.
The number of Canadians visiting the US by air has also dropped dramatically, a decrease of 13.5 percent on a year ago. February saw a 13 per cent fall — indicating a consistent decline.
The drop in demand has already led airlines to reduce their capacity for US bound flights by an average of 6.1 percent for April, May and June, according to aviation-analytics company Cirium.
Palm Springs have put up signs to express their respect for their Canadian visitors
Vehicle traffic from Canada into Erie and Niagara County was down 14 percent last month
The number of Canadians making trips to the US by car dropped 32 percent last month
WestJet found Canadians avoiding the US for destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean
People hold flags as they protest in solidarity with Canada amid uncertainty over tariffs policy, near the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Buffalo, New York, U.S. April 2, 2025.
The country's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has hit back against Trump's threats
Canadians are replacing trips to the US with Mexican and Caribbean vacations instead, according to Calgary-based WestJet.
Flair Airlines is even abandoning its routes from Vancouver and Calgary to Phoenix, Arizona next month.
Earlier this month the Canadian government warned its residents entering the US to expect increased scrutiny at the border.
The country's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, initially hit back against Trump's threats stating that 'Canada will never, ever, be a part of America in any way, shape, or form.'
'We didn't ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,' Carney said at his acceptance speech for becoming Liberal Leader.
'The Americans, they should make no mistake, in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.'
However, following news of a 90 day reprieve for most other countries Canada has agreed to open negotiations 'immediately.'
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