Oops! Ontario Premier Faces Backlash Over Michigan Tourism Comment

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford apparently made an unforced error last week when he encouraged Canadians to vacation in Michigan. During a press briefing he reportedly said “...if you’re ever in the summer and you want to go to a beautiful destination, go visit our friends in Michigan…” His comments created something of a backlash in Canada, including an op-ed piece in the Toronto Star. Michigan is one of a number of border states feeling the effects of a sharp drop in Canadian tourism. Passenger vehicle traffic into Michigan from Canada fell 16% in 2025. Based on the tempest created by Ford’s offhand comments, it seems unlikely that things will improve much in 2026.


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