Duty free shop in N.B. to close after 31 years due to drop in cross-border shoppers
Ongoing political tensions between Canada and the United States, and a trade war sparked by President Donald Trump's tariffs, have meant fewer cross-border tourists and visitors.
John Slipp, who runs Woodstock Duty Free Shop in Belleville, N.B., says prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, he saw upwards of 200 people in his shop on a summer day.
Now, he gets about 20.
'Back in 2017, I was starting to kind of think and talk out loud about retiring in 10 years from then,' he said.
'Because of COVID and the current situation, those retirement plans are out the window. We've had to spend personal savings to in order to manage.'
Story continues below advertisement
At the age of 59, he says he has no choice but to find other employment once he closes up the duty free shop.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
As a lifelong resident of the New Brunswick border town, which borders with Maine, Slipp says he could never have imagined Canadian-American relations would ever reach the point they are at now.
'Americans, interestingly enough, have more apprehension about the border … The immigration enforcement activities in the United States has created a fear for many about travelling and about the border experience,' he said.
'(Meanwhile,) Canadians are angry. Canadians are reluctant to go.'
'It's catastrophic'
Slipp's experience isn't isolated.
According to Statistics Canada data, return trips from the U.S. by car are down 33 per cent compared to June of last year.
This is having a devastating impact on sales at duty free shops, whose regulations prohibit them from making domestic sales.
'Our industry is an export only business and we rely 100 per cent on that traffic going over the border,' said Barbara Barrett, the executive director of Frontier Duty Free Association.
'So when you drive into the parking lot of a land border duty free stop, you absolutely have to exit into the United States and all of our product goes directly into the Unites States.'
Story continues below advertisement
1:45
'Don't be a stranger': Maine governor trying to woo back Maritime neighbours
She says duty free shops across Canada are seeing freefalling sales and some of them are having trouble keeping the lights on.
A recent survey conducted by the association found a third of their stores could close if they don't receive support from the federal government.
'We've been a part of the Canadian tourism fabric for over 40 years now. When we lose them, we're not getting them back,' she said.
'That would be a tremendous shame. So that's where we're at. It's catastrophic.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
California farmworker who fell from greenhouse roof during chaotic ICE raid dies
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A farmworker who fell from a greenhouse roof during a chaotic ICE raid this week at a California cannabis facility died Saturday of his injuries. Jaime Alanis, 57, is the first person to die in one of the Trump administration's anti-immigration operations. Yesenia Duran, Alanis' niece, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. Duran has posted on the fundraising site GoFundMe to say her uncle was his family's only provider and he had been sending his earnings back to a wife and daughter in Mexico. The United Food Workers said Alanis worked at the farm for 10 years. 'These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families,' the union said recently in a statement on the social platform X. The UFW reported Alanis' death prematurely late Friday, but the Ventura County Medical Center later issued a statement authorized by the family saying he was still on life support. The Department of Homeland Security said it executed criminal search warrants Thursday at Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria. Garcia called family to say he was hiding and possibly was fleeing agents before he fell about 30 feet (9 meters) from the roof and broke his neck, according to information from family, hospital and government sources. Agents arrested some 200 people suspected of being in the country illegally and identified at least 10 immigrant children on the sites, DHS said in a statement. Alanis was not among them, the agency said. 'This man was not in and has not been in CBP or ICE custody,' DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. 'Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a greenhouse and fell 30 feet. CBP immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible.' Four U.S. citizens were arrested during the incident for allegedly 'assaulting or resisting officers,' according to DHS, and authorities were offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a person suspected of firing a gun at federal agents. During the raid crowds of people gathered outside the facility in Camarillo to seek information about their relatives and protest immigration enforcement. Authorities clad in military-style helmets and uniforms faced off with the demonstrators, and people ultimately retreated amid acrid green and white billowing smoke. Glass House, a licensed California cannabis grower, said in a statement that immigration agents had valid warrants. The company said workers were detained and it is helping provide them with legal representation. The farm also grows tomatoes and cucumbers. 'Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors,' it said. The business is owned by Graham Farrar, a generous donor to California Democrats including Gov. Gavin Newsom, a vocal critic of Republican President Donald Trump.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Why student unemployment is rising and what it could signal about a looming recession
The unemployment rate for students looking for summer jobs is the highest it's been in a non-pandemic year since 2009, when Canada was going through a recession — and some economists worry that the latest numbers could signal another one is just around the corner. 'That's really concerning to me,' said Viet Vu, economic researcher at Toronto Metropolitan University. 'Oftentimes, youth unemployment is a leading indicator to what could be a recession.' Statistics Canada's latest Labour Force Survey showed June's data for 'returning students,' which it defines as full-time students in March who intend to return to school full time in the fall, was 17.4 per cent. That's up from 15.8 per cent in June of last year. The agency defines 'returning students' as those aged 15 to 24. While the first year of the pandemic saw a 33.1 per cent 'returning student' jobless rate, last month's figure marks the highest since June 2009, when the rate was also 17.4 per cent. 'The reason why this is bad is when you look at how an economy is doing, you look at how many people are getting fired and how many people are getting hired -- and oftentimes, when companies squeeze their budget ... the first positions to go tend to be the most junior,' added Vu. 'Which tells you that these companies aren't doing well because they can't afford to hire a summer student.' Meanwhile, Statistics Canada's unemployment rate for the broader 'youth' category — which includes all 15- to 24-year-olds, not just students — stood at 14.2 per cent in June. That's up 0.7 percentage points from last year, and well above the pre-pandemic average of 10.8 per cent between 2017 and 2019. 'This has been a brutal summer for students to look for a job... the openings are just not there,' said Jim Stanford, director and economists at the Centre for Future Work in a Zoom interview with CTV News Saturday. Trade war to blame, economists say Economists say the U.S. trade war is playing a significant role in the growing student unemployment rate. Many companies are choosing not to take on new hires because of the amount of uncertainty that comes with constantly changing U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports to America. 'I think the blame for the high student unemployment rate rests solely at Donald Trump's doorstep,' said Stanford. 'In the last few months, companies have had no idea where the economy is going. The last thing they're going to want to do is take on a few extra heads for the summer. The border city of Windsor, Ont., saw the highest unemployment rate among all demographics in June with 11.2 per cent, indicating the tariffs have had a major impact on Canadian industries. Stanford isn't ready to say a recession is guaranteed to happen just yet. 'We've all been watching for signs that the toll of the Trump tariffs could push Canada into a recession — and if he goes ahead with the 35 per cent tariffs, we could have a recession. Not yet, though," he said. Brendon Bernard, senior economist at job search site Indeed, said there is a silver lining: the year-over-year increase in the student unemployment rate has narrowed compared to previous years. The rate jumped from 11.9 per cent in 2023 to 15.8 per cent in 2024, but climbed more modestly this year to 17.4 per cent. 'There's been some caution that employers have undertaken because the situation could go in multiple directions,' Bernard said.
Cision Canada
3 hours ago
- Cision Canada
YVR celebrates additional Asia-Pacific connections with inaugural T'way flight to Seoul Français
New carrier strengthens YVR's position as a global gateway, key driver of trade and economic impact MUSQUEAM TERRITORY and RICHMOND, BC, July 12, 2025 /CNW/ - Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is proud to be the first airport in North America to welcome regular service from South Korean airline, T'way Air. Today's inaugural flight kicks off four-times weekly, year-round service between Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul and YVR, further positioning YVR as the preferred North American gateway to Asia-Pacific. The new T'way service provides the community with even more flexibility and convenience when travelling to South Korea and connections across Asia, but the benefits of this new service go beyond passengers alone. An additional air connection provides increased cargo capacity to further diversify trading markets and get British Columbian and Canadian products to consumers in Asia and around the world. 2024 was a record-breaking year for cargo out of YVR with more than 339,000 tonnes of goods shipped through the airport and South Korea is YVR's number two air export destination. "British Columbia has long had strong ties with South Korea and is home to a large Korean community that continues to make significant contributions to the cultural diversity and prosperity of our province," said B.C. Premier David Eby. "This affordable direct flight will allow people to stay connected with friends and family across the Pacific and also means that it will be faster and easier to do business with our fourth largest trading partner, strengthening the economic ties between us during a time of global uncertainty." "This new service to South Korea is about more than travel convenience—it represents a strategic investment in connectivity, trade, and Canada's place in the global economy," said Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO at YVR. "YVR is excited to further expand our ability to connect Canada with the world, to support industry and families, attract investment, and to further build resilience in supply chains." Each new international route from YVR results in direct economic benefit, with the flight to Seoul estimated to generate $39.8 million in economic output, $20.8 million in GDP, and 237 full time jobs in the province. "The launch of our Vancouver–Incheon route represents more than just a new destination—it's a meaningful bridge connecting people, cultures, and economic opportunity," said Mr. Sang Yoon Lee, CEO of T'way Air. "As the first Korean low-cost carrier to serve Canada, we're excited to welcome onboard travellers to Korea while continuing to deliver reliable service." Prior to the flight departing for its inaugural 11-hour journey, Elders from Musqueam, joined by Musqueam Councillor Morgan Guerin, helped send passengers on their journey in a good way with traditional songs and hands raised. Since 2017, this relationship has been guided by the Musqueam-YVR Sustainability & Friendship Agreement, a 30-year commitment built on respect, reconciliation, and shared prosperity. Flights with T'way from Vancouver to Seoul are scheduled to depart YVR at 5:25 p.m. local time arriving at ICN the next day at 9:35 p.m. local time. T'way is operating this route using an Airbus 330-300 aircraft, offering 347 seats, including lie-flat options in its Business Saver class, moving approximately 2,700 passengers weekly. Established in 2010, T'way Air is a low-cost carrier serving more than 40 destinations domestically in South Korea and around the globe including Europe, Asia, Australia, and now North America with the introduction of service to YVR. For further details on this new service and to book, please visit Photos and B-roll footage of the departure celebrations at YVR are available upon request by contacting [email protected]. ABOUT YVR Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a diverse global hub that connects people, cargo, data, and ideas and serves as a platform for our community to come together and thrive. We are motivated by supporting regional economic development and making a positive difference in the lives of British Columbians. We do this with a focus on serving our passengers, partners, workers, and community through digital modernization, climate leadership, reconciliation, and financial sustainability.
