I live in Deepest South Florida. Normally there are a LOT of snowbirds down here at this time of year. Hmm. I see New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, even Ohio and Maine license plates. Where, oh where, are the Ontario and Quebec and so on plates?
There are effectively no Canadian snowbirds (other than real birds, that is; there are far too many bloody Canada geese) and the locals in multiple industries have noticed and are NOT happy. The guys in the Bahamas, Cuba, the Caymans, Jamaica, the eastern Caribbean, and Mexico… they’re happy.
I live in a mid sized town about 30 miles from the Canadian border. In the past years our Trader Joe’s and Costco had so many Canadians going to those stores the parking lot was full of Canadian cars and parking was always hard. So bad at Trader Joe’s that many of us local folks stopped going and Trader Joe’s is opening up a second store.
Now I go to either store and can usually park right in front. I hadn’t gone to Trader Joe’s in about three years but after the “business man” took over the economy I parked with open spots all around me.
Our grocery stores, gas stations all have waaaay less Canadians.
For us locals it’s something like in Europe after the Black Plague. The infrastructure all around was created for more people but nobody’s left.
Sounds good but it’s all short term. Might as well be eating our grandchildren.
There won’t be financial data for some time but i can offer anecdotal evidence. All observed since Trump began his bullshit.
Item 1: I have not set foot in an American based restaurant since this started. I’ve discovered that there are many strictly Canadian restaurant chains and if necessary, others own by non Americans.
Item 2: I have not purchased fuel from or entered an American based gas station. Petro-Canada and my local Co-op fuel my vehicles.
Item 3: Full bins of American produce in the stores that are rather quickly being replaced by equivalents from around the world.
Item 4: I did a significant grocery shopping today. Spent several hundred dollars across the store. Out of all that I purchased perhaps two items of American origin.
Item 5: Amazon and other American based online purchases have gone to zero for me. As well as dropping ALL American based subscription services.
I haven’t even touched on boycotting any travel or spending in the US yet. And Canadians used to spend $20 BILLION a year there. That supports 200 THOUSAND American jobs.
I’m just one person and this isn’t a complete list. And there are a LOT of pissed Canadians doing the same or more.
I live in the Palm Springs area of California and typically we have a lot of Canadians here over the winter. It seems like it’s about the same, but most of them came down before Trump took office. I’ve heard from friends they’ve seen their Canadian neighbors put their homes up for sale. I’m guessing there will be far fewer next season, which will be noticeable negative impact on our economy, which is based on tourism.
We had some cousins from Bellingham, Washington visit a few weeks ago. Bellingham is near the Canadian border and the large Vancouver B.C. metro area. The Costco and Trader Joe’s in town are especially popular with Canadians and both stores are usually extremely busy with jammed parking lots and crowded aisles. Apparently that has changed just in the last month or so. They’re definitely staying home, which will be a huge impact on the economy of northwestern Washington.
Having grown up and living in Washington State until I retired, I’ve always had many Canadian friends, neighbors, and colleagues and visited their beautiful country many times. And they’re a big part of the desert community where I live now. It’s sad this long close relationship is being destroyed and for no good reason.
The Peace Arch crossing between Blaine, Washington and Surrey, BC from the U.S. side
The Canadian side (hard to read, but it says “Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity”)
