Will U.S. travel pick up after midterm 'blue wave'?
asserted
travel → pick → wave
Not so fast, say these Canadians
Many Canadians have been boycotting U.S. travel amid Trump's tariffs and other threats
John May had low expectations ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
uncertain
May → say → elections
But he was glad to see the Democratic Party take control of both chambers of Congress in a Nov. 3 vote that many observers have described as a resounding rebuke of U.S. President Donald Trump.
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observers → see → Trump
To see that there's finally some common sense coming around down there," said the 73-year-old from Manotick, Ont., an Ottawa suburb.
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old → see → Manotick
How will Republicans and Democrats move forward after midterms?
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Republicans → move → midterms
Americans in Canada hope midterm results will help mend ties between both countries
May, who stopped travelling to the United States last year amid Trump's repeated threats against Canada, said he and his wife Patti aren't ready to go south of the border again just yet though.
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he → hope → border
The couple had spent winters in Florida for more than a decade before May said the atmosphere turned "toxic" as Trump mocked Canadian leaders and pushed to turn Canada into the "51st state.
uncertain
Trump → spend → state
"We'd like to, but we're not feeling like we want to go back yet," May told CBC News.
uncertain
May → like → News
"I think we've got to wait until they've got a different president down there and a whole different attitude," he said.
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he → think → president
"Things haven't changed enough.
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Things → change → ?
We'll need a couple more years, I think."
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I → need → years
John and Patti May pose for a photo in Key West, Fla., in February 2024.
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May → pose → February
Drop in travel
Many Canadians, including those with relatives or business interests south of the border, have continued to travel to the U.S. amid Trump's threats and the trade war with Canada.
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Canadians → include → Canada
But data shows travel to the U.S. has dropped alongside the strained relationship.
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travel → show → relationship
According to Statistics Canada, return border crossings from the U.S. fell by about 25 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year.
uncertain
crossings → accord → year
- Are you changing your holiday plans due to the cost of domestic airfare in Canada?
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you → change → Canada
There has been a slight increase in 2026: A total of 1.9 million return trips by car and air from the U.S. were reported in October, marking the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year growth and a three per cent increase from October 2025, Statistics Canada reported.
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Canada → report → October
But when compared with October 2024, return trips by car were down 29 per cent while those by air were down 19.6 per cent.
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those → compare → air
Possible 'softening' of travel plans
It's too soon to say whether the midterms will lead to a major increase in Canadian travel south.
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midterms → say → travel
McKenzie McMillan, a travel consultant and co-owner of The Travel Group in Vancouver, said that, anecdotally, there may be some "softening" around U.S. travel.
"But it hasn't really translated at this point into new bookings, or a real change in the overall sentiment to avoid the United States," McMillan said.
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McMillan → say → States
"We are still hearing overall that travellers are looking to alternative destinations for their winter travel and beyond."
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travellers → hear → travel
Spokespersons for Air Canada and Porter Airlines also told CBC this week that it was too early to say whether the midterms have had an effect on travel.
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midterms → tell → travel
Air Transat said it did not have sufficient data to identify a trend.
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it → say → trend
But the midterms may help ease the negative feelings that some Canadians have had.
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Canadians → help → that
Marja Vermeer, a 67-year-old from Strathroy, Ont., said the vote results, coupled with messages over the past two years from Americans rejecting the Trump administration's attacks against Canada, make her more open to visiting the U.S.
"Especially to the states where they voted Democrat, I think they're ... a bit more comfortable and a bit more welcoming," she said.
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she → say → states
Midterms provide 'great relief'
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Midterms → provide → relief
Jill Ellis-Worthington, 65, of London, Ont., also said the midterms made a recent trip to the U.S. more palatable.
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trip → say → U.S.
Ellis-Worthington — who is originally from the U.S. but has been living in Canada since age 25 — said she went to her home country this month to deal with issues at a Texas property she owns.
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she → live → property
It was her first visit since 2024, and one she had put off for as long as possible.
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she → put → 2024
Windsor residents not ready to return to U.S. despite Democratic midterm wins
- Analysis
How the Democrats' midterm wave shows a path back to the presidency
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wave → return → presidency
"There's just so much chaos and so much denial of everything that is America going on now with the government, so I just didn't want to support that in any way," she told CBC.
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she → be → CBC
"I think there are a lot of people who feel great relief [after the midterms] and feel that there might be some light on the horizon."
uncertain
who → think → horizon
Ellis-Worthington said Americans had been "nothing but friendly, gracious [and] hospitable" during her trip.
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Americans → say → trip
But she acknowledged that some Canadians likely won't be going back soon, despite last week's vote.
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Canadians → acknowledge → vote
"And some won't ever go back, I don’t think."
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I → go → ?
The Peace Bridge U.S.-Canada border crossing is seen on March 20 in Buffalo, N.Y. (Yuki Iwamura/The Associated Press)
Distrust persists
Indeed, the new Congress doesn't take office until January, and many observers say the Trump administration's policies — including an immigration crackdown that has led to the detention of several Canadian citizens in recent months — continue to fuel distrust.
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that → see → distrust
Mary Thurber, who lives in Lake Country in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley, said she has avoided going to the U.S. for several reasons.
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she → live → reasons
"It's a combination of anger at their policies and disgust with some of the treatment of their own citizens, and frankly, a little bit of fear," said Thurber, 70.
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Thurber → say → fear
"And do I want to support the economy of ... an administration that is actively attacking my country?"
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that → want → country
But she said visiting the U.S. is now "an active discussion" in her home after the midterms.
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visiting → say → midterms
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
