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Vancouver Sun
20 hours ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Bellingham sends love letter to B.C. as cross-border traffic slump continues
In the face of a continued slump in visits from their northern neighbours, Bellingham city officials have written to several B.C. municipalities in the hopes of repairing strained relations and affirming longstanding ties. Nearly 100,000 fewer B.C. vehicles crossed the border into Washington state in May compared to the same period last year, according to data collected by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Washington state's Department of Transportation. That was a drop of almost 50 per cent from last year and was the third month in a row with such a precipitous drop in British Columbians heading south. The decline in travel to the U.S. coincides with a fervent 'buy Canadian' sentiment that was brought on by the tariff dispute between the U.S. and Canada and U.S. President Donald's Trump's repeated threats of making Canada the '51st state.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Bellingham city council members last month approved sending a letter to nine Metro Vancouver cities reaffirming a 'peaceful partnership that has lasted for nearly two centuries.' 'We wish to express our commitment to our connection with the people of Canada and our deep-rooted social, cultural, and economic ties,' the letter reads. 'It is our hope that our futures will be interwoven with trust and mutual respect, as our histories have been.' The letter was signed by Kim Lund, the Bellingham mayor, and Hollie Huthman, the city council president. Copies were delivered on May 21. In an emailed statement to Postmedia Tuesday, Lund said: 'Many Canadians understandably feel, angry, sad, and betrayed right now. We cannot speak for the other Washington, but we can speak for our city when we say it is our hope that we can heal this rift and return to a relationship rooted in goodwill and mutual respect.' Huthman added in the same email: 'Despite U.S. federal actions and rhetoric that we disagree with, Bellingham's values have not changed. We are committed to maintaining constructive and collegial relationships.' Bellingham, a city of nearly 100,000 people, is about 30 kilometres south of the Canada-U.S. border. It's traditionally been a popular shopping and tourism destination for British Columbians. Canada is Washington state's top international market for tourists and the decline in cross border travel could have a significant economic impact. Guy Occhiogrosso, president of the Bellingham regional chamber of commerce, said in an email that tourism, restaurants and large retail businesses were all being affected but the decline in B.C. visitors, but he suggested smaller border communities, like Blaine and Sumas, were harder hit. During the meeting in which Bellingham city council approved the draft letter to Metro Vancouver cities, Coun. Daniel Hammill said many local businesses have seen a noticeable drop in Canadian visitors. '(They're) just not seeing Canadian plates in the parkings lots as much any more,' he said. 'It affects sales tax, it affects revenue. And it's not just about the sales tax revenue, it's about the spirit of being welcoming as a community.' The Washington state legislature recently approved a resolution that also reaffirmed the longstanding relationship between Washington and Canada. In April, Seattle-area businesses launched 'Open Arms for Canada,' a program to encourage Canadian tourism. In early March, Premier David Eby urged British Columbians to avoid travel to the U.S. Southbound vehicles from B.C. to Washington state fell by 26 per cent in February and by 43 per cent in March and the numbers have not improved since. @njgriffiths ngriffiths@
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Hwy. 407 East now toll-free from Pickering to Clarington
Published Jun 01, 2025 • 1 minute read The provincially owned portion of Hwy. 407 East, between Pickering, Ont., and Clarington, Ont., is officially toll-free as of Sunday, June 1, 2025. Photo by Fred Thornhill / Toronto Sun files The provincially owned portion of Hwy. 407 is officially toll-free. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The move, announced as part of the Progressive Conservative government's budget last month, took effect Sunday. The budget permanently removed tolls from the provincially operated 407 East from Pickering to Clarington. Read More Premier Doug Ford had promised the move earlier this year during the provincial election campaign as a way to provide relief for drivers. The province estimates removing the tolls would save daily commuters around $7,200 annually. A Ministry of Transportation report in 2021 projected those tolls would generate about $72 million in provincial revenue in 2024-25. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Editorial Cartoons Sports Canada Toronto & GTA Columnists
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Highway 407 East now toll-free from Pickering to Clarington
TORONTO - The provincially owned portion of Ontario's Highway 407 is officially toll-free as of today. The move, announced as part of the Progressive Conservative government's budget last month, took effect June 1. The budget permanently removed tolls from the provincially operated Highway 407 East from Pickering to Clarington. Premier Doug Ford had promised the move earlier this year during the provincial election campaign as a way to provide relief for drivers. The province estimates removing the tolls would save daily commuters around $7,200 annually. A Ministry of Transportation report in 2021 projected those tolls would generate around $72 million in provincial revenue in 2024-25. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Highway 407 East now toll-free from Pickering to Clarington
TORONTO – The provincially owned portion of Ontario's Highway 407 is officially toll-free as of today. The move, announced as part of the Progressive Conservative government's budget last month, took effect June 1. The budget permanently removed tolls from the provincially operated Highway 407 East from Pickering to Clarington. Premier Doug Ford had promised the move earlier this year during the provincial election campaign as a way to provide relief for drivers. The province estimates removing the tolls would save daily commuters around $7,200 annually. A Ministry of Transportation report in 2021 projected those tolls would generate around $72 million in provincial revenue in 2024-25. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Weekend construction to impact Burlington Skyway
Motorists, beware — there is construction on the Burlington Skyway this weekend. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will be closing two lanes of the Niagara-bound QEW at the bridge starting Friday at 10 p.m. until Monday at 5 a.m., according to a notice from the City of Burlington. All ramps from the Eastport Drive collector lanes to the Skyway Bridge will be closed, while Northshore Boulevard will remain open. Eastport Drive collector lanes and Eastport Drive can be used by motorists as a detour or alternative route. Two lanes of traffic will remain open on the Niagara-bound QEW at all times during the construction — which is set to occur over many weekends. Transit riders are also being warned of the potential for 'significant transit delays,' with residents asked to check MyRide or Google Maps for arrival time information. Traffic interruptions won't come to an end this weekend , with annual maintenance on the Lincoln Alexander Parkway scheduled to take place from Friday, June 13, to Monday, June 16. That closure, originally expected to take place this weekend, was rescheduled due to the work on the Skyway. The upcoming shutdown will be the sixth annual closure for the Linc, allowing crews to do asphalt repairs, resurfacing, catch-basin cleaning, bridge maintenance, pavement marking and signage repairs. For the Linc closure, the eastbound lanes will be closed from 8 a.m. on June 13 to 5 a.m. on June 16. The westbound lanes will be closed from 10 a.m. June 13 to 5 a.m. on June 16. Detour routes will be via Mohawk Road and Stone Church Road. Motorists can access the 403 eastbound from the Mohawk Road on-ramps, while those travelling into the city via the 403 will be directed to exit at the Golf Links off-ramp. Those work dates are weather-dependent, and any changes will be relayed to the public. Residents are reminded to plan ahead and use alternate routes, as well as expect delays and increased traffic on neighbouring roads. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
