Category Archives: Politics

Canada, Politics

Why are Canadians avoiding U.S. travel?

Canadians changing their travel plans

Recent surveys show a significant shift in Canadian travel behaviour when it comes to visiting the United States:

  • One poll found that over 65% of Canadians said they have changed their travel plans this year to avoid travelling to the U.S. — with ~35.7% cancelling their trips completely, and ~29.5% choosing a different country instead.

  • Another survey reported that among Canadians who had planned a U.S. trip, 56% had either cancelled or modified it.

  • A February 2025 poll showed that 48% of Canadians said they were “less likely” to visit the U.S. this year compared to last.

  • According to the Travel Health Insurance Association (THIA), about 70% of Canadians intend to avoid travel to the U.S. this year.

Actual travel numbers backing the shift

It isn’t just intentions — the data show real declines in travel:

  • For April 2025, return trips of Canadian residents from the U.S. by vehicle dropped ~35.2% compared with April 2024; by air they dropped ~19.9%.

  • In May 2025, automobile return trips from the U.S. dropped ~38.1% year-over-year.

  • For August 2025, Canadian-resident return trips to the U.S. were down ~29.7% overall; vehicle trips fell ~32.6%.

Why are Canadians avoiding U.S. travel?

The various sources point to a mix of factors:

  • Political tensions and trade disputes between Canada and the U.S. — for example, Canadians citing tariffs and a sense of being treated unfairly.

  • A weak Canadian dollar vs. the U.S. dollar making travel to the U.S. more expensive.

  • A preference for alternatives: more Canadians are choosing to travel domestically (within Canada) or to other international destinations instead of the U.S.

What this means

  • The U.S., which has historically been the top destination for Canadians travelling abroad, is seeing a noticeable pull-back in Canadian visitors. For example: in 2024 Canadian-resident trips to the U.S. totaled around 39 million, representing ~75% of all Canadian-resident travel abroad.

  • For U.S. tourism and border-economies that count on Canadian visitors, the drop is significant — both in visitor numbers and likely in spending.

  • For Canada, this means more of the tourism “dollar” may stay at home or go to other destinations — which could benefit domestic travel sectors.

  • For travellers: if you were planning to go to the U.S., this might be a good time to reassess exchange rates, border conditions, and perhaps compare alternatives.

Politics

Republicans Just Got Smoked

Republicans Just Got Smoked — Are We Finally Seeing the Beginning of Trump’s Political Downfall?

I couldn’t help but notice a pattern as election results rolled in last night: Republicans got absolutely smoked. Everywhere there was a major contest — from local races to big statewide battles — the GOP came up short.

And it wasn’t just one-off races or quirky local issues. It felt bigger. Voters across the country seemed to send the same message: enough with the chaos, the culture wars, and the constant Trump drama.

For years, the Republican Party has tied itself tighter and tighter to Donald Trump, betting that his base could carry them through anything. But now, that bet looks shaky. These results suggest that the MAGA brand isn’t energizing people the way it used to — especially in swing areas where elections are actually won or lost.

I’m not saying Trump is done — far from it. His hold on the GOP is still powerful, and he has a loyal following. But politics is about momentum, and right now, it feels like that momentum is shifting.

Maybe this is the first real sign that voters are starting to move on. Or maybe it’s just a temporary blip before 2024 turns everything upside down again. Either way, something is changing — and Republicans might want to pay attention before it’s too late.

Politics

Thank you, Doug Ford!

Thank you, Doug Ford! Nothing like sticking your thumb right in the Orange Man’s eye — and using that Reagan commercial? Chef’s kiss.

Memo to Canada’s premiers: stop lining up to kiss Trump’s ass. It’s not a winning strategy, eh? 🇨🇦🍁

Politics

Trump’s Popularity:

Donald Trump’s Popularity: Low and Getting Lower

Here’s a snapshot of how Donald Trump is faring in terms of approval and popularity — both in the U.S. and around the world — and what that might mean.

🇺🇸 Domestic Popularity

  • According to a recent poll by Reuters/Ipsos, just 42% of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, while 56% disapprove. Reuters+2Reuters+2

  • Another survey from Gallup puts his approval at 40%. Gallup.com+1

  • Among independents, the approval rating is even worse: about 29% approve of his job performance. Gallup.com

  • On key issues:

  • Net approval (approve minus disapprove) is firmly negative—for some polls it’s around –11 points or worse. Newsweek

  • Younger voters, especially millennials and Latinos, have seen sharp declines in support. Newsweek

Bottom Line: Trump’s popularity in the U.S. is weak across much of the electorate, with only about 4 in 10 approving of his performance, and widespread concern about his handling of major issues.

🌍 Global Popularity

Bottom Line: Globally, Trump’s image is marred: in many allied and Western countries the public lacks trust in his international leadership, though in some non-Western or non-democratic contexts his ratings are stronger.

🧭 Why the Low Ratings? Key Drivers

  • Economy & Cost-of-Living: Polls show that Americans are deeply concerned about inflation, prices, and the economy — areas where Trump is getting weak marks. The Associated Press+1

  • Issue-specific Performance: Many of the policy domains where a president is judged (economy, trade, budget, foreign affairs) are seeing low approval for Trump. Gallup.com+1

  • Demographics Shift: Younger voters, minorities (especially Hispanic/Latino voters), and independents are moving away or never strongly supported him. Newsweek

  • Global Perception: Outside the U.S., many are skeptical about his handling of foreign relations, climate change, and multilateral diplomacy — affecting America’s “brand” abroad. Pew Research Center

📝 Implications

  • Domestically, low and negative net approval may signal trouble for upcoming elections (midterms, state contests) and hampers his ability to claim a strong mandate.

  • Internationally, weaker global trust in his leadership could make diplomacy harder, reduce leverage in multilateral forums, and affect U.S. soft power.

  • For his base, Trump remains strong among committed Republicans, but the size of that base may not be sufficient alone if broader public sentiment remains over-whelmingly unfavorable.

  • Governance-wise: When a large portion of the public disapproves of the handling of core issues (economy, trade, budget), room for maneuver becomes narrower and polarisation sharper.

📌 Sample Social-Media Post

Headline: “Why Trump’s Popularity Is So Low — and What It Means”

The latest polling shows that President Donald Trump’s approval rating in the U.S. hovers around 40-42%, with more than half of Americans actively disapproving of his job performance. Among independents and younger voters, the numbers are worse. On key issues like the economy, trade and immigration, his approval is in the high 30s or low 30s.

Internationally, the picture is even more stark: in major Western democracies such as Germany, Sweden and Spain, fewer than 1 in 5 people say they have confidence in his leadership of global affairs.

So why does this matter? Because when a leader lacks broad domestic support and global respect, their ability to govern effectively, negotiate internationally and sustain political momentum is weakened.

Whether you support him or oppose him, the fact is clear: Trump’s popularity is under major strain — and for his agenda to succeed, the numbers will have to improve.