Maine rolls out the welcome mat for visiting Canadians
Gov. Janet Mills seeks to repair damage done by Trump rhetoric and tariffs
Maine Gov. Janet Mills knows the state has a long relationship with New Brunswick. People cross the border into Maine for vacations, to shop, or to visit family and friends.
After a centuries-old relationship, the state shouldn't have to put out the welcome mat, but Mills knows they must with sharply declining visits because of the Trump administration's trade war and talk of Canada becoming the 51st state.
"My hope is that we will continue to be both trading partners, family members and friends, as we've been for centuries in the past," said Mills, a Democrat.
"We've all heard the rhetoric from the nation's capital in Washington, D.C. We've heard some pretty negative language coming from the current occupant of the White House about making Canada the 51st state. And we're very concerned about the tariffs, of course, as are the premiers with whom I've spoken as well. We want to do whatever we can to overcome that breach of relationships."
New welcome signs are being installed near border crossings to remind Canadians they will always be warmly received, even if many are taking a break from crossing the border for the time being, Maine tourism director Carolann Ouellette said.
"We're still welcoming and really appreciate and value the time that [Canadians] spend with us in Maine," she said.
"It's more about keeping those relationships really strong. Many of us who have personal relationships have been reaching out individually and acknowledging that we recognize and understand the concerns. But we're here when anyone's ready to come back, and we hope that our long relationship continues to hold strong."
The state will also be providing signs that business owners can display in their windows.
800,000 Canadians visit Maine each year
Canadians are an important part of the Maine tourism economy, Ouellette said. They account for about five per cent of visits and six per cent in the beach areas. In total, around 800,000 Canadians visit Maine each year, with an economic impact of $500 million.
Since the beginning of the tariff war and President Donald Trump's talk of the 51st state, she said, cross-border traffic has dropped by about 25 per cent.
Mills said the state is doing what it can to limit the damage being done to the relationship between Maine and eastern Canadian provinces, in particular.
"I'm hoping that we can put out the welcome mat," Mills said. "I can't change the presidency. I can't change the tariffs. Lord knows I would if I could change the rhetoric and the tariffs, but we're putting out welcome signs all over the state of Maine … we're putting out bilingual welcome signs at all 13 border crossings between Maine and Canada."
Mills also recognizes that the tourism relationship is a "two-way street."
"We welcome you to visit, to stay, to dine here, to shop here, to trade here," Mills said. "And I'm planning to do the same in Canada. I'm planning a road trip into New Brunswick and perhaps Nova Scotia in the coming weeks to make sure that my message is clear."
Mills said she and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey are inviting the Atlantic Canadian premiers to meet with them in Boston in the coming weeks.
"[We want to] see how we can overcome the problem in relationships, the problem in trade, the problem in hospitality that seems to be arising because of the rhetoric from Washington," Mills said.
'We're still the same folks that we've always been'
Mills and Ouellette want Canadians to understand that the U.S. government's attitude doesn't reflect long-standing relationships that will survive the current climate that's been hostile at times.
Ouellette said Mainers and Canadians are friendly on a one-to-one level, and that will mean a lot in the long run.
"I live right on the Quebec border, and you've got a wonderful country and wonderful people who are very friendly," Ouellette said. "It's been a very respectful set of conversations when we've been one-on-one with folks.
"We're still the same folks that we've always been. It's safe, it's welcoming, and we just really appreciate the time that you do spend with us, and you're our neighbours. It's really important to us. So come when you're ready and we're here and with arms open wide."
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With files from Information Morning Fredericton and Saint John