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3mo ago

Maine Governor Courts Canadian Tourists After Sharp Visitor Decline

Her meetings with Maritime premiers seek to rebuild cross-border trust shaken by presidential tariffs after reports of border mistreatment.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, right, and Maine Governor Janet Mills talk tariffs, tourism and partnership during a press conference at the Fredericton’s Cyber Centre on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Hina Alam
Maine Gov. Janet Mills is travelling in the Maritimes and has convened with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt just a week after the pair met up in Boston. 
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Overview

  • In May, Canadian crossings into Maine fell by about 27 percent compared with the same month last year, amounting to 85,000 fewer visitors.
  • Governor Janet Mills is conducting a three-day charm offensive in the Maritimes, meeting with the premiers of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to encourage tourism.
  • President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and rhetoric about making Canada the “51st state” have fueled Canadian anger and a travel boycott.
  • New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said significant changes in U.S.-Canada relations are needed before Canadians feel safe spending their money in the United States.
  • The tourism slump has hurt small businesses in Maine and similar declines of 20 to 60 percent have been reported across other northeastern states.