Deputy Mayor Greg Grimes hasn’t crossed the border from Canada into the U.S. in 18 months and he has no intention to take action any time quickly. He is one among many Canadians who need no a part of the brand new America beneath President Donald Trump.
Journalist Phoebe Wall Howard wrote on Substack that Grimes and his household would cross the border often to have dinner, buy groceries, go to pals or attend an occasion. They are not alone.
Wall Howard cited a Forbes journal report from February that stated the lack of tourism from Canada to the U.S. has price the American financial system roughly $4.5 billion. They used information from the U.S. Journey Affiliation and the U.S. Commerce Division’s Nationwide Journey and Tourism Workplace.
She pointed to a different report by the Wall Avenue Journal during which Port Huron Metropolis Supervisor James Freed, a conservative Republican, stated he thought Canadians have been extra involved in regards to the alternate charge, and that is why they weren’t coming into the U.S. as a lot.
Grimes was shocked.
“I’m studying the primary half of this information story with feedback from (Sarnia) Mayor (Mike) Bradley about how life has modified from our facet of the border and, it’s like, how can we make this higher and get again to the place we have been?” Grimes stated. “Then I get to feedback from Freed and located them very dismissive, that our considerations aren’t legitimate.”
These considerations stem from Trumpism.
“The 51st state rhetoric, the ‘we need to take you over’ and up to date stuff with the Gordie Howe Bridge. That’s the place it hurts me and all Canadians,” he stated.
“It’s this worry that we’re foreigners after we’re there, like ICE detention is an precise chance,” Grimes added.
There is a worry of coming into the U.S. and having their laptops seized by federal brokers and never with the ability to work.
“Now there’s that worry of the unknown. We’ve misplaced that trusted traveler friendship,” stated Grimes.
“Based on the U.S. Journey Affiliation, Canadian guests generated roughly 20.4 million visits and roughly $20.5 billion in customer spending in 2024, supporting about 140,000 American jobs,” Fortune journal stated in its report Friday. “The financial affect of fewer Canadian guests in 2025 impacts largely border states that rely closely on folks driving throughout the border for retail, eating places, casinos and short-stay accommodations.”
In a letter to Freed, Grimes conveyed how “shocked and disenchanted” he was with Freed’s feedback blaming the whole lot on the alternate charge.
He conveyed that the “latest actions and rhetoric on the federal stage have had on the traditionally robust relationship between Canadians and Individuals, significantly inside our border communities. I agree with Metropolis of Sarnia Mayor Bradley’s feedback relating to the pressure being felt, and I’m involved that attributing declining cross-border exercise primarily to financial situations or alternate charges overlooks a big a part of the problem.”
He stated Canadians really feel “unsettled,” with the failure of “respect, belief, and the sense of partnership that has historically existed between our international locations and communities.”
Grimes defined that he and his spouse are only one couple, however he is aware of the sentiment is shared by many in his city and past.
The letter closed with Grimes telling Freed to look past the economics, as a result of rebuilding belief and the connection will take a whole lot of work.
The Republican replied solely with, “I respect your suggestions! Hope to have you ever go to once more, quickly.”
Grimes noticed it as simply extra dismissiveness.
“It simply perpetuates that, form of, ‘No matter, Canadians.’ We’re reaching out, however we’re not feeling it again. It’s a disgrace,” stated Grimes.
