Canadians avoid U.S. for March Break

Amid ongoing tensions with the U.S., Canadians continue to shun cross-border travel, according to new data from Statistics Canada.

In March, the number of Canadians crossing the border by car was down 31.9% compared with the same month a year ago, the national statistical agency reported. 

This marked the third straight monthly decline, it said.

The number of Canadians returning from the U.S. by air in March was also down 13.5% year-over-year, even as the number of foreign trips overall ticked up — rising by 0.5% year-over-year (for both U.S. and non-U.S. flights combined) — as the drop in air travel to the U.S. was more than offset with trips to other destinations. 

Cross-border trips by U.S. residents were also down 10.6% by car, StatCan said — although the volume of U.S. visitors to Canada by air increased by 1.2% from the same month in 2024.

Overall, international arrivals — including both returning Canadians and foreign visitors to Canada — by both air and car were down by 14% in March.

James Langton

James is a senior reporter for Advisor.ca and its sister publication, Investment Executive. He has been reporting on regulation, securities law, industry news and more since 1994.