Flying to Saskstchewan for the first time. New Kia Sportage imported from South Korea instead of the USA because of tariff related price increases. That's 60k$ in spending that did not go to the USA. We have a big, beautiful country. If the crackheads to the south had not elected that horrid man, we would be going to Vermont. Its less than 2 hours away. Oh well, eventually we will not even miss it anymore.
One family changes a vacation and a vehicle purchase... multiply decisions like that across millions of Canadians and suddenly we’re talking real money.
And discovering more of Canada along the way isn’t exactly a hardship.
My husband and I stopped going to Florida for the winter when COVID hit and ever since then, we have driven from Ottawa to Vancouver Island for the winter instead. Now that the pandemic is over, we’re still coming to the beautiful BC coast; this year will be our sixth winter on Vancouver Island.
It takes us 7 days to drive here instead of 3 days to Florida; it’s temperate rain forest instead of palm trees; it’s cooler temperatures and refreshing rain instead of glowing sunshine every day.
BUT, BC has mountains, forest and ocean. It’s stunning here and you don’t have to shovel rain. Most importantly, we are both safe AND supporting our Canadian economy.
Hopefully, my sharing will inspire other snowbirds to keep their travel Canadian, even in the winter. The cross-country odyssey is quite onerous at our age, but my Canada and our sovereignty are worth it. #Elbowsupcanada #Never51
I worked at Beach Acres Resort on Vancouver Island for about 10 years and we had a lot of snow birds from the prairies every winter. They became our close friends!
Main Street Canada may be the biggest winner of all.
Every hotel, restaurant, coffee shop, gift shop and little family business gets a piece of that spending when Canadians keep their travel dollars here.
Good article Fred. Americans spend on average $1200 - $1300 on Canadian products while Canadians spend on average $8500 - $9300 on American products. That’s roughly 7 times more on American products and I for one will not be replacing my Acura with another Acura built in the US. If Canadians shift just $50 dollars of their spending towards Canada made goods it triggers a massive economic boost of over $2 billion dollars to the local economy. I know some Canadians feel helpless well this is a way to help, buy Canada.
Every individual act of solidarity adds to the actions of others. An avalanche starts with a single snowflake—that combines to form a small snowball; that gathers size and momentum as it thunders down a steep slope to become an awesome, unstoppable force.
BE A SNOWFLAKE!!
My husband and I stopped going to Florida for the winter when COVID hit and ever since then, we have driven from Ottawa to Vancouver Island for the winter instead. Now that the pandemic is over, we’re still coming to the beautiful BC coast; this will be our sixth winter on Vancouver Island.
It takes us 7 days to drive here instead of 3 days to Florida; it’s temperate rain forest instead of palm trees; it’s cooler temperatures and refreshing rain instead of glowing sunshine every day.
BUT, British Columbia has mountains, forest and ocean. It’s stunning here and you don’t have to shovel rain. Most importantly, we are both safe AND supporting our Canadian economy. Oh yeah, and we haven’t spent a nickel on US products or services since the Cantaloupe Conman was inaugurated 19 months ago.
Agree, every province has so much to offer. Biked Stanley Park, walked Butchart Gardens and marveled at the Rocky Mountains. Although no where near as high driving the Cabot Trail through the highlands into Margaree Valley Cape Breton never fails to inspire me, of course the thought of fishing salmon in the river is also part of the magic.
I have driven over the Cabot Trail twice in my life. Once in 1967 with my Mom, Dad and Brother and in 1984-attending a wedding in Halifax! I loved the colours, the people and just whole experience. I will come again within the next few years with my husband! He has never been east of ON. Elbows up Canada!
Kate, visiting the US once was something my wife and I enjoyed when we took our little campervan south during our cold winter weather. However, when Trump was elected for a second time, we decided to let our passports expire and visit local Canadian attractions instead. And we know other folks who've chosen to never set foot in the US. Nothing against Americans, unless they're diehard MAGA types! We had some very uncomfortable encounters with fervent Trump supporters in Trump 1.0. Furthermore, things didn't feel the same for us during the Biden/Harris administration, especially after January 6. Trump's chaos in his first term changed the country, in our view, so we felt it best not to spend our money where we didn't always feel welcome.
We sincerely hope that you'll be able to recover your country after the midterms.
For many Canadians, something simply changed in how comfortable they felt travelling south, so they started discovering more of their own country instead.
And once people build new habits and find places they love here, some of those travel dollars may never go back.
I have friends and family in the US, I worked with Americans most of my adult life and liked them a lot. This isn’t aimed at Americans it’s aimed at Trump and the henchman that are enabling him. I know it might not seem that way however we’re responding to our sovereignty being attacked.
Sometimes I think economic theory forgot that customers have a choice, and may exercise that choice is sufficiently angry about being treated as if they were irrelevant.
That is just incredible. It's the power of the purse. I've been practising that same thing for a long time now. And many more people in Europe with me. Here too it is starting to make a difference. Wonderful news!
It is my birthday weekend and I am reading this while travelling to Stratford, Ontario where we are staying two nights in a hotel, seeing two Stratford Festival shows filled with Canadian talent, eating 4 meals at locally owned restaurants, sipping a Ontario wine, and likely doing a bit of shopping in the delightful downtown. All together we will spend close to $1,500 and have a grand time doing it. 🇨🇦💪
And you’ve just described my whole article better than I did.
$1,500 spread among a Canadian hotel, Canadian theatre, locally owned restaurants, Ontario wine and downtown shops... while having a grand time doing it.
Every individual act of solidarity adds to the actions of others. An avalanche starts with a single snowflake—that combines to form a small snowball; that gathers size and momentum as it thunders down a steep slope to become an awesome, unstoppable force.
Fred, I can’t read comments to your articles, substack returns an error message, can’t find help on substack. The weird thing is I can still comment, but I can’t read the complete reply, just the thumbnail on my comments page. Frustrating! same problem on Dean Blundell’s
The data couldn’t be read because it isn’t in the correct format
Flying to Saskstchewan for the first time. New Kia Sportage imported from South Korea instead of the USA because of tariff related price increases. That's 60k$ in spending that did not go to the USA. We have a big, beautiful country. If the crackheads to the south had not elected that horrid man, we would be going to Vermont. Its less than 2 hours away. Oh well, eventually we will not even miss it anymore.
Exactly, Johnny.
That’s the whole article in one comment.
One family changes a vacation and a vehicle purchase... multiply decisions like that across millions of Canadians and suddenly we’re talking real money.
And discovering more of Canada along the way isn’t exactly a hardship.
My husband and I stopped going to Florida for the winter when COVID hit and ever since then, we have driven from Ottawa to Vancouver Island for the winter instead. Now that the pandemic is over, we’re still coming to the beautiful BC coast; this year will be our sixth winter on Vancouver Island.
It takes us 7 days to drive here instead of 3 days to Florida; it’s temperate rain forest instead of palm trees; it’s cooler temperatures and refreshing rain instead of glowing sunshine every day.
BUT, BC has mountains, forest and ocean. It’s stunning here and you don’t have to shovel rain. Most importantly, we are both safe AND supporting our Canadian economy.
#Never51
#truenorthstrongandfree
#elbowsup
#MaitresChezNous
Maureen, “you don’t have to shovel rain” just made this Vancouver Islander laugh. 😂
Six winters means you’ve definitely earned honorary Islander status by now.
And your story is exactly the point... money that once went south is now being spent travelling across Canada and living here for the winter.
Thanks for sharing this.
Hopefully, my sharing will inspire other snowbirds to keep their travel Canadian, even in the winter. The cross-country odyssey is quite onerous at our age, but my Canada and our sovereignty are worth it. #Elbowsupcanada #Never51
I worked at Beach Acres Resort on Vancouver Island for about 10 years and we had a lot of snow birds from the prairies every winter. They became our close friends!
Let’s not forget about Canadian small businesses: Main Street Canada
Absolutely, Shelley.
Main Street Canada may be the biggest winner of all.
Every hotel, restaurant, coffee shop, gift shop and little family business gets a piece of that spending when Canadians keep their travel dollars here.
Good article Fred. Americans spend on average $1200 - $1300 on Canadian products while Canadians spend on average $8500 - $9300 on American products. That’s roughly 7 times more on American products and I for one will not be replacing my Acura with another Acura built in the US. If Canadians shift just $50 dollars of their spending towards Canada made goods it triggers a massive economic boost of over $2 billion dollars to the local economy. I know some Canadians feel helpless well this is a way to help, buy Canada.
That $50 example really puts it in perspective, JPowell.
Roughly 41 million Canadians × $50 is over $2 billion redirected.
Nobody has to change the world by themselves...
millions of us making one small purchasing decision can move a remarkable amount of money.
That’s the power I wanted people to see in this article.
Exactly, we have more power than we think.
Every individual act of solidarity adds to the actions of others. An avalanche starts with a single snowflake—that combines to form a small snowball; that gathers size and momentum as it thunders down a steep slope to become an awesome, unstoppable force.
BE A SNOWFLAKE!!
My husband and I stopped going to Florida for the winter when COVID hit and ever since then, we have driven from Ottawa to Vancouver Island for the winter instead. Now that the pandemic is over, we’re still coming to the beautiful BC coast; this will be our sixth winter on Vancouver Island.
It takes us 7 days to drive here instead of 3 days to Florida; it’s temperate rain forest instead of palm trees; it’s cooler temperatures and refreshing rain instead of glowing sunshine every day.
BUT, British Columbia has mountains, forest and ocean. It’s stunning here and you don’t have to shovel rain. Most importantly, we are both safe AND supporting our Canadian economy. Oh yeah, and we haven’t spent a nickel on US products or services since the Cantaloupe Conman was inaugurated 19 months ago.
Go Canada 🇨🇦 Forever a sovereign nation ❤️
#Never51
#truenorthstrongandfree
#elbowsup
#MaitresChezNous
Maureen, between “you don’t have to shovel rain” and now “BE A SNOWFLAKE,” you’re starting to write my material for me. 😂
But you’ve nailed the point.
One snowflake doesn’t amount to much.
Millions moving in the same direction can become one hell of an avalanche.
Enjoy winter number six on our beautiful Island. 🇨🇦❤️
Agree, every province has so much to offer. Biked Stanley Park, walked Butchart Gardens and marveled at the Rocky Mountains. Although no where near as high driving the Cabot Trail through the highlands into Margaree Valley Cape Breton never fails to inspire me, of course the thought of fishing salmon in the river is also part of the magic.
I have driven over the Cabot Trail twice in my life. Once in 1967 with my Mom, Dad and Brother and in 1984-attending a wedding in Halifax! I loved the colours, the people and just whole experience. I will come again within the next few years with my husband! He has never been east of ON. Elbows up Canada!
I hope we in America have the same feelings for recovering our country !! 💙💚🩵💙🩵💚
I hope so too, Kate.
Countries are stronger when ordinary people care about their communities, their neighbours and the kind of country they’re leaving behind.
I’m rooting for good people on both sides of the border.
There are many of us, both North and South of the border, eh?!?!?9
Kate, visiting the US once was something my wife and I enjoyed when we took our little campervan south during our cold winter weather. However, when Trump was elected for a second time, we decided to let our passports expire and visit local Canadian attractions instead. And we know other folks who've chosen to never set foot in the US. Nothing against Americans, unless they're diehard MAGA types! We had some very uncomfortable encounters with fervent Trump supporters in Trump 1.0. Furthermore, things didn't feel the same for us during the Biden/Harris administration, especially after January 6. Trump's chaos in his first term changed the country, in our view, so we felt it best not to spend our money where we didn't always feel welcome.
We sincerely hope that you'll be able to recover your country after the midterms.
That distinction matters, Jerry.
This was never about disliking Americans.
For many Canadians, something simply changed in how comfortable they felt travelling south, so they started discovering more of their own country instead.
And once people build new habits and find places they love here, some of those travel dollars may never go back.
We are happy for you find your strength. We are still looking for our humility !!
We feel the same. I cannot set foot in the US as long as the US has Maga and the Trump administration!
I have friends and family in the US, I worked with Americans most of my adult life and liked them a lot. This isn’t aimed at Americans it’s aimed at Trump and the henchman that are enabling him. I know it might not seem that way however we’re responding to our sovereignty being attacked.
Exactly, JPowell.
I’ve tried to keep that distinction clear too.
This isn’t anti-American... many of us have American friends and family we care about.
But friendship doesn’t require Canadians to quietly accept actions we believe threaten our economic interests or sovereignty.
We can like our neighbours and still stand up for our own country.
Trump, his henchmen and his MAGA supporters.
We know. Stay resistant the southern madness. We are looking fortes”vaccine “!
Sometimes I think economic theory forgot that customers have a choice, and may exercise that choice is sufficiently angry about being treated as if they were irrelevant.
Most economists certainly did.
Exactly.
Somewhere in all those economic models sits an inconvenient little creature called a customer... and occasionally the customer gets pissed off. 😂
When enough of them do it at the same time, “consumer choice” stops being theory and starts showing up in the numbers.
That is just incredible. It's the power of the purse. I've been practising that same thing for a long time now. And many more people in Europe with me. Here too it is starting to make a difference. Wonderful news!
Exactly, Cornelia... the power of the purse.
And I love hearing that you’re seeing the same thing happening in Europe.
One person changing what they buy seems insignificant.
Millions making conscious choices about where their money goes can become a very different story.
Thanks for the view from across the Atlantic. 🇨🇦❤️🇪🇺
It is my birthday weekend and I am reading this while travelling to Stratford, Ontario where we are staying two nights in a hotel, seeing two Stratford Festival shows filled with Canadian talent, eating 4 meals at locally owned restaurants, sipping a Ontario wine, and likely doing a bit of shopping in the delightful downtown. All together we will spend close to $1,500 and have a grand time doing it. 🇨🇦💪
Happy birthday, Sharon! 🎂
And you’ve just described my whole article better than I did.
$1,500 spread among a Canadian hotel, Canadian theatre, locally owned restaurants, Ontario wine and downtown shops... while having a grand time doing it.
That’s the power of the purse in action.
Enjoy every minute of Stratford!
Every individual act of solidarity adds to the actions of others. An avalanche starts with a single snowflake—that combines to form a small snowball; that gathers size and momentum as it thunders down a steep slope to become an awesome, unstoppable force.
BE A SNOWFLAKE!!
#Never51 #TrueNorthStrongAndFree #MaitresChezNous
#Elbowsupcanada
Okay Maureen, I surrender. 😂
**BE A SNOWFLAKE!** ❄️
I have a feeling that one is going to stick around here.
Go ahead and use it. ❤️
🙌👏❤️🇨🇦
A journey of a 1000 kms starts with one step.
Fred, I can’t read comments to your articles, substack returns an error message, can’t find help on substack. The weird thing is I can still comment, but I can’t read the complete reply, just the thumbnail on my comments page. Frustrating! same problem on Dean Blundell’s
The data couldn’t be read because it isn’t in the correct format
That’s a strange one, Aocm... and a first for me.
I can see your comment here perfectly, so nothing appears wrong on my end.
Since you’re getting the same error on Dean Blundell’s comments, it sounds like a Substack problem rather than anything specific to GeezerWise.
I’d report that exact error message to Substack Support.
Hopefully they can sort it out, because not being able to read the replies while still being able to comment would drive me nuts too. 😄
I’ll send it in, keep writing the good stuff Fred, I can still read it!
It turns out, we forgot how much we have to offer ourselves. You feed the people in your home before you feed others. Put your oxygen mask on first.
We have some pretty cool stuff in our country. I'm so glad more of us are starting to appreciate it.