January was the 12th straight month of shorter lineups and wait times at the Aldergrove/Lynden border crossing, according to a website that tracks cross-border trips.
Figures collected by the Cascade Gateway portal show the number of B.C. vehicles going south from Aldergrove through the Kenneth G. Ward U.S. land crossing in Lynden was 1,036 on the last day of January, compared to 1,382 the same day a year ago.
That is a drop of 25 per cent overall, in line with figures from the Cascade website showing total volume at the main B.C,. crossings, Aldergrove, Peace Arch, Pacific Highway (commercial), and Sumas has fallen 36 per cent since Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the U.S. on Jan. 20.
Since then, Trump has waged a war of words and tariffs with Canada, and other trading partners, most recently threatening to impose higher tariffs and decertify business jets built by Canada’s Bombardier unless certain models built by a U.S. rival are certified by Canada.
His rhetoric, and similar anti-Canadian sentiments expressed by Trump supporters in the U.S., has produced a drop in travel to the states from this country.
Several opinion polls have reported many Canadians are also staying away from the U.S. due to safety concerns, some of it caused by reports of violent tactics being deployed by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers.
Destination Canada, a national tourism organization, reported many Canadians appeared to be playing tourist in their own country instead, with the domestic tourism sector reporting a record-breaking $59 billion in revenues from May to August, up six per cent from the previous year.
As well, more Canadians have been going to Mexico, with stats showing a 12 per cent surge in visits from this country.
A forecast by the U.S. Travel Association predicted the decision by many Canadians to stay away would mean a 3.2 per cent decline in international tourism spending, and a loss of $5.7 billion U.S. that will put roughly 14,000 American jobs at risk
South of Lynden, Visit Seattle was projecting a 26.9 per cent decline in international overnight visitation to Seattle in 2025, almost all of it due to reduced travel from Canada.