Latest news with #FrontierDutyFreeAssociation
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Mayors in border communities call on Ottawa to boost support for duty-free shops
A group representing Canadian land border duty-free stores has released an open letter signed by 15 mayors from border communities, calling on Ottawa to provide more support for the shops. The strain on the Canada-U.S. relationship has led to a drop in border traffic, and the stores are struggling to stay afloat as a result, said Barbara Barrett, executive director of the Frontier Duty Free Association. The shops had previously faced down the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor, Ont., said that duty-free shops in his region are seeing a 40-per-cent drop in sales. The letter also says that many stores are reporting revenue losses of 60 per cent to 80 per cent in just the past few weeks. The letter urges the federal government to provide immediate liquidity for the hardest-hit stores; to issue a ministerial directive that would reaffirm the export status and remove regulatory uncertainty; and to align excise tax policy with the export status so stores can fairly compete with their U.S. counterparts. How a Canadian suit maker got slammed by Trump's China tariffs Ms. Barrett said they would need to figure out the specific details of the liquidity ask, but she pointed out that the industry is small and 'we don't need much.' Mike Bradley, the mayor of Sarnia, Ont., said 3,000 jobs at independently owned duty-free stores across Canada are at stake. 'The message is very, very simple – this is a crisis,' he said. 'This is not a fat cat industry. The people we've spoken to who have these particular operations across this country are ordinary working people who live in their community, employ people in their community, and give back to their community.' Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Border city mayors call on feds to support duty free stores caught in trade war cross-fire
Duty free stores across Canada and the border communities they operate in are calling for help from the federal government. It comes as Canadians continue to steer away from travel to the U.S. during U.S. President Trump's trade war on Canada and other countries. 'This is not a fat-cat industry,' said Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, who spoke at a news conference in Ottawa Tuesday. 'The people we've spoken to who have these particular operations across this country are ordinary working people who live in their community, employ people in their community and give back to their community,' he said. 060325 - Duty free Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens join a news conference on Parliamant Hill, Ottawa by Zoom. (File) Bradley has joined 14 other border city mayors in penning an open letter to the federal government asking for help for duty free stores. The group wants immediate cash support for duty free stores. It also wants the government to align excise tax policies and export status with American duty free rules- something they say would make them more competitive with U.S. stores. 'Urgent action is needed. We risk losing independent, family run duty free stores that have been the cornerstone of our town for decades,' said Tania Lee, a representative for the Frontier Duty Free Association. The FDFA says duty free stores have been disproportionately impacted by the trade war. It says the last time duty free shops went through anything like the current crisis was during COVID, when the border was closed for two years. According to the mayors, duty free stores have struggled to get back on their feet. 'The duty free business in our community is generally driven by those who are going over for sporting events, for leisure travel and that is what you're seeing decline dramatically,' said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. 'It's not just in Windsor, it's across our country where Canadians are saying, 'you know what, we just don't want to go to the United States, we don't want to spend our money there right now, we don't want to travel there,'' he said. 060325 - Duty free Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens join a news conference on Parliamant Hill, Ottawa by Zoom. (File) The FDFA says its members have seen their revenues decline by 60 to 80 per cent due to the U.S. trade war. Mayor Bradley says 3,000 jobs are at stake. 'If the industry fails across this country, some future government in the next five to 10 years is going to have to re-invent the duty free industry. We don't want to see that happen,' said Bradley.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Duty free stores look for financial support as cross-border traffic drops
OTTAWA - An association representing duty free stores and a group of 15 border city mayors have written a letter to the federal government asking for financial support and clarity on export rules. The Frontier Duty Free Association says its members have seen their revenue decline by 60 to 80 per cent as cross-border traffic slows due to the U.S. trade war. The association is asking for 'immediate' cash support for duty free stores, which they say are often key employers in small border communities. The association also wants the federal government to align excise tax policies and export status with American duty free rules, something they say would make them more competitive with U.S. stores. Association executive director Barbara Barrett says that duty free stores in small communities in Western and Eastern Canada are seeing the steepest loss in traffic. The association represents 32 duty free stores across the country. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Duty free stores look for financial support as cross-border traffic drops
A sign for a duty free store at the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Que., on Thursday, April 10, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes OTTAWA — An association representing duty free stores and a group of 15 border city mayors have written a letter to the federal government asking for financial support and clarity on export rules. The Frontier Duty Free Association says its members have seen their revenue decline by 60 to 80 per cent as cross-border traffic slows due to the U.S. trade war. The association is asking for 'immediate' cash support for duty free stores, which they say are often key employers in small border communities. The association also wants the federal government to align excise tax policies and export status with American duty free rules, something they say would make them more competitive with U.S. stores. Association executive director Barbara Barrett says that duty free stores in small communities in Western and Eastern Canada are seeing the steepest loss in traffic. The association represents 32 duty free stores across the country. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025. David Baxter, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Duty free stores look for financial support as cross-border traffic drops
OTTAWA – An association representing duty free stores and a group of 15 border city mayors have written a letter to the federal government asking for financial support and clarity on export rules. The Frontier Duty Free Association says its members have seen their revenue decline by 60 to 80 per cent as cross-border traffic slows due to the U.S. trade war. The association is asking for 'immediate' cash support for duty free stores, which they say are often key employers in small border communities. The association also wants the federal government to align excise tax policies and export status with American duty free rules, something they say would make them more competitive with U.S. stores. Association executive director Barbara Barrett says that duty free stores in small communities in Western and Eastern Canada are seeing the steepest loss in traffic. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The association represents 32 duty free stores across the country. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025.
