Canadian border mayors, representing communities overlooking the United States, are urging the federal government to provide financial assistance to struggling independently owned duty free stores. An open letter, signed by 15 mayors on behalf of the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), was sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, highlighting the severe impact of tariffs and cross-border travel disruptions, which have led to revenue losses of up to 80% for some stores.
Canadian border mayors push feds for financial aid for slumping duty free stores
United StatesMayor Mike BradleyInternational tradeTariffsTrade disputesTravel
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Canadian border mayors, representing communities overlooking the United States, are urging the federal government to provide financial assistance to struggling independently owned duty free stores. An open letter, signed by 15 mayors on behalf of the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), was sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, highlighting the severe impact of tariffs and cross-border travel disruptions, which have led to revenue losses of up to 80% for some stores.
Trending- 1 Tuesday (prior to June 3, 2025): Open letter sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
- 2 Tuesday morning (prior to June 3, 2025): News conference on Parliament Hill.
- Potential closure of one-third of all duty free stores
- Job losses in border communities
- Economic hardship for independently owned businesses
What: Canadian border mayors are requesting financial aid from the federal government for duty free stores.
When: Tuesday morning (prior to June 3, 2025) news conference; letter sent Tuesday (prior to June 3, 2025).
Where: Parliament Hill (news conference); Canada-United States border communities.
Why: Duty free stores are experiencing steep declines in cross-border trips and significant revenue losses (up to 80%) due to ongoing political and economic trade war tensions, tariffs, and travel disruptions. Many stores are family-run and main employers in their towns.
How: 15 border mayors signed an open letter on behalf of the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) and sent it to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, outlining the disproportionate impact on stores and their workforces.