Across the Rainy River District, tourist camps and outfitters are having a banner year. Camps are full of fishermen and families. Squeals of delight can be heard across the lake as children play and paddle on beaches and docks. Summer in Northwestern Ontario is beautiful and fun-filled.
The majority of tourists to our communities and camps arrive from U.S. states, but every year we are seeing a greater portion of Canadians avoiding the U.S. and choosing to vacation in Canada. It may be that a Canadian dollar is only worth 70 cents U.S., making food, gas and accommodations south of us more expensive than vacationing in Canada.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump gave Canadians even more reasons to avoid travel in the United States. He announced that he was going to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian goods. He will be taxing dairy and alcohol products along with hockey sticks and Christmas ornaments.
It may be that Canadians are choosing to boycott U.S. destinations. Last September, the number of Ontario licence plates returning from the U.S. fell by 30 per cent. It was the lowest number of any province in Canada. Canadians are instead choosing to vacation in Canada. If you choose to travel across Lake Superior, you will find it difficult to make a reservation in any of the small communities that run across the north shore. And if you do, you will pay a premium for your accommodation.
In 2024, Canadian travellers spent $20 billion in the U.S. When one-third of Canadian U.S. travellers chose to stay home in 2025, there was a boost of $6.5 billion to Canada’s economy. That boost in our economy is continuing in 2026.
Destination Canada, our country’s national tourism organization, projects that this structural change, combined with growing tourism from other countries, will boost the economy by almost $ 141 billion in 2026, an increase of six per cent over last year.
Ontario residents are discovering Northern Ontario. Out-of-province residents are discovering gems like Kakabeka Falls, Ouimet Canyon, Winnie the Pooh and other great stops across the north. You may want to dip your toes into the still waters of Superior at Batchawana Bay, Pancake Bay or Old Woman Bay. It is all part of the Superior Provincial Park. Ontario has become the top travel destination for Canadians.
Canadians are also choosing to travel west to take in the Calgary Stampede, Banff, the Rocky Mountains and Vancouver Island. Canadians are also discovering the heritage of Old Quebec City, St. John’s and Halifax. Canadians are discovering more of our own culture.
Canada has much to offer. Having travelled from coast to coast and enjoyed hospitality in every province, I can confidently assert that you too can discover and enjoy Canada.
