How a Canadian travel boycott could hurt WNY

A new survey shows the stakes of a trade war between the U.S. and Canada couldn't be clearer.

"The longer it goes on, the longer it will hurt the relations," Ontario resident Joanne Lindsay said.

CTV News and The Globe and Mail commissioned a national poll that found nearly three in four Canadians, said they will stop traveling to the United States, in protest of U.S. imposed tariffs.

"This is hurting everybody in every way, shape and form," she added.

So I went over to Canada to see how our neighbors to the north are feeling.  Some said they want to see an end to the tiff before it goes too far.

"It doesn't help the average Canadian or American adding $5,000 to a car," Fort Erie resident Andrew Hodgins said.

But James Frizzell, a business owner from Niagara Falls, Ontario," said he actually supports the U.S. tariffs and wants to see Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, back down a bit.

"There should be a compromise so it can keep jobs for people on both sides of the river," Frizzell said.

Thursday was the first time he crossed the border since Canada put in place its own tariffs on July first.  And he noticed something that troubled him.

"There seems to be larger traffic jams.  Canadian customs seem to be slowing things down and the 18-wheeler trucks are lined up right across the bridge," Frizzell added.

A travel slowdown or boycott, is also very worrying to Dottie Gallagher.

"I sort of don't blame them--I wish it weren't the case," she said.

She's the President of The Buffalo-Niagara Partnership.

"We are on a direct corridor to Toronto, which is the powerhouse of the Canadian economy.  We stand to lose more as a region that the rest of the country."

She said her primary goal is to keep Canadians coming over.

"It is always dangerous to disrupt someone's habit."

Gallagher is working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to voice the partnerships' opposition to the tariffs.