Democrats’ blue tsunami could be reversing travel turnoff of Canada-U.S. trade war

Montreal - Travel experts predict the Democrats' historic midterm victory will stimulate a surge in Canadian tourists travelling to the United States, reversing the impact of recent trade war tension. Statistics Canada reveals a three percent rise in Canadian return trips from the U.S. in October compared to the same period last year, the seventh consecutive month of growth. However, this increase is significantly less than the year-over-year increase from July to September.

The Flight Centre travel agency reports a 26 percent decline in new bookings year-over-year last month, attributed to new tariffs and provocative comments from U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite this setback, there are early indications of a resurgence in cross-border travel following the Democrats' electoral success on November 3, seen as a rebuke to White House policies.

Yet, Canadian visitor volumes remain far below pre-trade war levels, as Canadians continue to seek alternative destinations due to the ongoing trade war.

The report, originally published by The Canadian Press on November 12, 2026, notes that the Democrats' electoral triumph may set the stage for another successful election in 2028, but major legislative changes are not expected until January 3, 2027, when the new Congress is sworn in.