No, Canada!

The influx of Canadian tourists and visitors heading to upstate New York dropped significantly—21%—over the first eleven months of 2025, according to recent statistics released by the governor’s office.

In connection with her $260 billion budget proposal, Governor Cathy Hochul shared that fewer than 3 million travelers crossed from Canada into New York, pointing fingers at President Trump’s tariff disputes and his overall confrontational attitude toward Canada.

A report from Hochul’s office indicated that “the adverse effects of a protectionist trade environment are negatively impacting New York’s economy.” It stated that costs for manufacturers in New York have risen, both directly and indirectly.

Much of this decline occurred during the tourist-heavy months from June to September when many Canadians chose not to make the trip south across the extensive New York border stretching from Quebec/Montreal to Ontario.

The Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge, which links St. Lawrence County in New York to Ontario, experienced a drop in toll revenue amounting to $1 million.

“The state’s leisure and hospitality sector, which is crucial for our economy, is also feeling the pinch,” the analysis from Hochul noted. “A negative sentiment has caused a decrease in border crossings and tourism expenditures from Canada.”

Residents in northern New York, particularly along the Canadian border, have reported a noticeable economic slowdown.

“Canadian visitors are down, and general traffic has lessened. Canadians seem upset,” commented James Ragen, who operates a bed and breakfast near the border.

Traditionally, the economy in the northern part of New York has been closely linked with Canada. Ragen expressed hope that any official protest or boycott from the north would be unusual and that things might settle down soon.

Despite tariff issues, Ragen mentioned that Trump’s ambition to make Canada part of the U.S. isn’t really a concern.

“The ongoing tensions didn’t help matters. They provided Canadians with a reason to cut back on their visits to New York. This situation has sparked a strong sense of Canadian patriotism,” he remarked.

During a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Trump claimed that Canada relies on the U.S. for security and chastised Prime Minister Mark Carney for being ungrateful in his criticism.

He suggested that the U.S. should take control of Greenland and establish a Golden Dome defense system to also protect Canada.

“Canada exists because of the United States. Mark, please keep that in mind for your next comments,” he added, addressing the Canadian Prime Minister.