Yukon residents mull whether to cancel U.S. travel plans during tariff war

Amidst an escalating tariff war between Canada and the United States and continued threats to annex Canada from U.S. President Trump, some Yukoners are reconsidering their U.S. travel plans.

According to the Canadian Border Service Agency, Canadians are making fewer trips to the United States with 500,000 fewer overland crossings in February 2025 than February 2024. OAG Aviation, an airline analytic company, is projecting 70 per cent fewer airline bookings from April-September this year than over the same period last year.

In Yukon, where many residents regularly visit Alaska, the question of whether to stop travelling to the U.S. can be particularly complicated.

Donald Hutton has lived in Mayo, Yukon, for most of his life. He said over the years, he has enjoyed heading across the border into Alaska to catch up with friends and get out of the territory for a while. But now, he says he will no longer be making those visits — at least as long as the current administration is in place.

"Any plans I had have been cancelled," he said. 

"We've got a big, beautiful country here. I've never been farther east than Ontario and I would love to see some of the Atlantic provinces."

Hutton said he has also made some other changes in recent months because of his anger at U.S. President Donald Trump.

"I cancelled my Netflix," he said. "I cancelled my Amazon. Little things, you know. People in my community have gotten rid of their Starlink, and it makes me proud."

Concerns about personal safety

Whitehorse resident Finley Parkes said as a transgender person they feel going to the United States right now could pose a risk to their personal safety.

"You see the rise of trans-phobia and just, like, the straight-up ignorant hatred happening," Parkes said. "And then seeing folks getting deported and mistreated really made me feel super uncomfortable."

Parkes said they have a 'x' gender marker on their passport and they fear that could potentially create an issue at the border. 

"When you change your gender marker over, obviously I had the opportunity to change it to a male and be able to fly under the radar," they explained. "Not only do I not feel comfortable going over the border with a gender marker that's most likely going to flag their system now that they're claiming only two genders, but I just don't want to be there."

Parkes said if they get the urge to travel anywhere, it will be within Canada. Parkes said that with so many places in the North to explore, they would prefer to spend their time and money closer to home. 

Not everyone cancelling U.S. travel plans

But some Yukoners say they will continue to travel to the United States.

Whitehorse resident Richelle Bierlmeier told CBC she will not be choosing to take Canadian staycations instead of crossing the border.

"My daughter goes to school in Phoenix at the Arizona State University and plays hockey down there," Bierlmeier said. 

"I know quite a few other Canadian kids that are down there playing hockey, and I know parents are not going to be pulling their kids and bringing them back to Canada just because of what's going on."

Beirlmeier said she's planning a trip to Palm Springs, Calif., in the coming months, and a trip to Haines, Alaska, for its annual beer festival.

She said she feels as a tourist with an up-to-date passport and no criminal record she has no concerns about her safety in the United States either.

"They have a lot of illegal immigrants and a lot of people illegally working there so they're trying to get on top of that," Beirlmeier said.

"As somebody who is just going down as a visitor, I have no issues and no concerns going to and from the States. If you're not comfortable with going to the States, then stay in Canada."