Canadians are cancelling U.S. trips as Trump sours relations

Ken Gray, with content from The Washington Post (Democracy dies in darkness)

[Ken Gray] Some friends recently asked if I thought boycotts were getting the attention of Americans, especially legislators and business leaders. It’s hard to say. With, for instance, groceries, changes in buying behaviour are obvious. There are some excellent bargains on American fruit and vegetables; my hair stylist thinks boycotts are a waste of time so she buys all the fruit and veg she can carry out the door. She is also obsessed with online vaccine conspiracy theories and fast-approaching apocalypses. “Just cut my damn hair please” I protest.

In The Post notes below, certain Canadians say farewell to US travel, at least for now. These notes express a sense of betrayal, distress, incomprehension, and anger. Trumpet’s broadsides against Canada, America’s closest ally, continue unrelentingly every single day. He has repeatedly said Canada should be the 51st state, talked about erasing the border (it was just drawn with a ruler — give that man a globe — and started a trade war.

“Canadians have sent notes explaining their decisions to U.S. hotels, tourism agencies and elected officials. ‘The hurt is what comes through the most,’ said Heather Pelham, a Vermont tourism official who estimates that her office has received about two dozen such missives.”

“Flight Center Travel Group Canada, one of the country’s largest travel agencies, said that over the past three months, about 20 percent of preexisting leisure trips to the United States were canceled. In February, bookings to the United States by Canadian vacationers fell 40 percent compared to the same month last year. Both figures are unprecedented in the agency’s 30-year history apart from during the pandemic, said Amra Durakovic, a company spokeswoman.

If the above outlines a broad picture of shifting priorities and changing practices, the notes below detail rationale behind specific travel plans.

[From the Washington Post]

Sent: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, 8:00 AM
To: Visit Lauderdale
Subject: Canadian Visitor

    I am 61 years old. Since I was a child, Florida has been a travel destination for my family. Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Clearwater, The Keys, etc….. My family, my friends, my neighbors, and a great many Canadians will be boycotting all travel not only to Florida but all American destinations. This is sad but necessary since your president has insulted all Canadians and stated that the US does not need Canada. He threatened our livelihood and more recently our sovereignty. Thank you for some of my best memories

Sent: Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, 12:12 PM
To: Travel Oregon
Subject: A note from your neighbour, Canada

    My partner and I love visiting Oregon, especially the coast. We love the endless beaches, the spectacular scenery, we love how dog friendly you are and we love your beer too.
    This year we planned another visit to the Oregon coast, spending a bit longer than we normally would, and invited close friends to come along with us.
    Unfortunately, due to the rhetoric of the President of the United States in regards to our home, Canada, we are cancelling our trip.
    After such a long and prosperous relationship, I can tell you that we feel betrayed by our southern friends.
    We will miss our visit and spending money in your lovely state. As a Canadian, it’s my duty to say ‘Sorry,’ but I’m not sure I mean it.

Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 7:34 AM
To: Alouette Beach Resort
Subject: RE: News from Quebec – Vacation 2025 in OOB – cancelling plans

    As you know, our family has been a faithful group visiting Old Orchard [Beach in Maine] over the past 20 years or so…
    However, considering the actual context prevailing in the US with the new president, the tariffs and sanctions he and his administration have decided to impose on our beautiful and friendly country, we do not feel that it’s the right time to book our summer vacations. We are sorry to change our plans but it is one of the ways we choose to manifest our opposition to what is happening in the US… Unfortunately, we do not feel as the longtime friends we used to be

Sent: Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, 2:06 PM
To: Visit Lauderdale
Subject: Love FL but…

    Hello. We’re a retired Canadian couple who have taken to spending the fall months in the Fort Lauderdale area. Despite the exchange rate, we keep going because we love the people, the bars and restaurants, the beaches, the shopping – did we mention the bars and restaurants? LOL Unfortunately, there are those in the US who seem to have forgotten the support and friendship that has historically linked our two countries. As a result, we (and all of our friends) will be taking our autumn retreat in Mexico this year where we are welcome and appreciated… Hopefully this silliness will subside. Time will tell.

Sent: Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, 9:50 AM
To: Burke Bike Barn
Subject: Your Neighbour to the North

    I have loved coming to Kingdom Trails [in Vermont] to bike. The wonderful and welcoming community along with superb trails has had me come back to KT for years…. As a Canadian I no longer feel like a neighbour who is valued or welcome. I will not be returning to the US nor to KT, which I feel is very regrettable.

Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
To: All WSD [Winnipeg School Division] Staff
 Subject: Travel to the U.S.

    Based on direction from the Board of Trustees and on the language used in Donald Trump’s speech to Congress last night, future professional development travel to the United States will now not be permitted… Additionally, all student travel to the United States is cancelled and future plans will not be permitted until further notice.
    The safety of our learners and staff is paramount and the President’s divisive, hateful, and anti-democratic actions and rhetoric present a danger to our community. I thank you for your understanding.

[Ken Gray] Closer to home, and speaking personally, while I have enjoyed travel for both work and pleasure in the US in the past (Kathie and I honeymooned in Oregon — we have considered an anniversary re-visit) I have no plans whatsoever to ever visit again. While the Trump regime may crumble and fall, the breadth of the insidious, callous, reprehensible, unjust, and mean-spirited action of gangster-like political leaders supported and even encouraged by the spineless and frightened GOP players will likely remain for decades if not forever.

So much damage is already done, and it is hard to imagine what the US will look like in even five years’ time. Simply waiting for the mid-terms in two years’ time is simply not enough.

UPDATE

“Cross-border trips to the U.S. reach COVID lows with nearly 500,000 fewer travellers in February” — CBC news article here.

AND FROM THE GUARDIAN

Robert Reich comments here.