Latest news with #bordercommunities
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. border city residents put their 'Elbows Up' for Canada amid trade war
Hundreds of people gathered in Ogdensburg, N.Y., at the U.S-Canada border over the Fourth of July weekend, singing songs and chanting in support of the friendship between the two nations currently at odds over questions of trade and sovereignty. The trade war, which has seen the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on various Canadian goods and threats by President Donald Trump to make Canada the 51st state, has led many Canadians to boycott travel to the states. It's a decision that's been strongly felt in border communities like Ogdensburg, where more than 200 people gathered Saturday for a rally at city hall. Attendees chanted "Elbows up!" and heard speeches from organizers and locals in the wider North Country region. They then moved north to the St. Lawrence River, where people waved across the border to folks in Prescott, Ont., before singing Bridge Over Troubled Water and O Canada. Ginger Storey-Welch, the leader of a civic engagement group in the North Country and one of the rally's organizers, said that cross-border traffic across the Ogdensburg–Prescott International Bridge is down 30 per cent and it's harming her community. "I really value the relationship that our two nations have had for decades and decades. And it's really breaking my heart to see the tensions between our nations. It's just, it's not right," Storey-Welch said. Other rallies were taking place along the U.S.-Canada border, from Maine all the way to Alaska, she added. "Our relationship is critical to the local economy," said Blake Gendebien, a local dairy farmer who spoke at the rally and whose eyes are set on winning political office in Washington, D.C. "The Canadian side of the river has been very, very important to me, to my family." Gendebien called the event a tribute to Canada and its longstanding relationship with the U.S. The decline in Canadian tourists is noticeable, he said, pointing out that it's impacting small and large businesses in the North Country region. Gendebien said he plans to run in the congressional midterms next year as the Democrats' representative for New York's 21st congressional district. "When we win this thing, it's going to go back to normal and our relationship is going to be great again," Gendebien said. 'Canada is a sovereign nation' Although organizers said the rally was non-political, some attendees expressed strong grievances with President Donald Trump. Kathryn Craft, an author from Pennsylvania who has a summer place in St. Lawrence County, said she was "embarrassed" by Trump's wishes to annex Canada. "This is not how democracy works. And he does not have the right to just trump, tramp, stamp over all of our laws," Craft said. "Canada is a sovereign nation. Its inhabitants are my friends, and I want to show them that most rational human beings in the United States are on their side." Trump previously unveiled what he called "reciprocal tariffs" on roughly 90 countries in April, but later paused them for 90 days to negotiate new deals. The 90-day freeze ends July 9 and so far the U.S. has only reached agreements with Britain and Vietnam. For Canada, which was not included in the 90-day pause, an end to tariffs could be looming as both Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney have agreed to strike a trade deal by July 21. It'll be music to Storey-Welch's ears, who hopes the rallies accomplish one thing. "Friendship," she said.
CBC
03-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Canadian border mayors push feds for financial aid for slumping duty free stores
Social Sharing Border mayors in Canada are pleading with the federal government to offer financial assistance to struggling independently owned duty free stores amidst ongoing political and economic trade war tension. An open letter penned on behalf of the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has been signed by 15 mayors whose communities overlook the United States, and who have seen a steep decline in cross-border trips. On Tuesday, it was sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne. The association represents 32 stores across the country. The letter outlines what's referred to as a disproportionate impact the stores, and their work forces, are facing from tariffs and continued cross-border travel disruptions. WATCH | Duty free shops fear Trump's trade war will force them out of business: Duty free shops fear Trump's trade war will force them out of business 29 days ago Duration 6:25 Barbara Barrett, the executive director for FDFA, says "immediate action" is needed from Ottawa. "When travel slows or stops, our stores — all independently owned, family run and often the main employer in their towns — are the first to feel it and often the hardest hit," she told reporters during a Tuesday morning news conference on Parliament Hill. "Our communities can't afford to lose these businesses. That's why today's letter is so urgent and why we're calling on the government to step in before the damage becomes permanent." Association president Tania Lee says some stores are seeing as much as 80 per cent in revenue losses. She says if that trend continues, one third of all duty free stores will close. FDFA is looking for things such as liquidity support for its hardest hit stores, and clarity on export rules. "Our ask is modest, but the need is urgent," Lee said. Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says duty free stores are struggling. "This is not a fat cat industry," he said. "The people we've spoken to who have these particular operations across this country are ordinary working people who live in their community, employ people in their community and give back to their community. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens also signed the letter to the federal government. "We believe that those things can actually make a significant and impactful difference while we navigate these choppy waters together with their friends in the United States," he said. "While this matter [trade war] is being settled, let's make sure that we keep people working."
