Travel to the U.S. is down even more dramatically than we thought, data shows - CBC [View all]

The boycott by Canadians of travel to the U.S., driven largely by an aversion to President Donald Trump, his industry-wrecking tariffs and 51st state taunts, has actually been more effective than previously thought, according to new data.

While official Statistics Canada figures show a roughly 25 per cent decline in Canadian residents returning from the U.S. last year, cellphone data compiled by researchers at the University of Toronto's School of Cities found that the year-over-year drop in cross-border trips was closer to 42 per cent.

The researchers analyzed data from Canadian mobile devices travelling to U.S. metro areas between April 1, 2025 — the day Trump famously dubbed "liberation day" as he imposed global tariffs — and March 31, 2026.

They found the decline was even more dramatic in some warm weather locales that have historically been hot spots for Canadians fleeing winter weather.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cross-border-travel-down-dramatically-research-9.7198652