Once upon a time, I sailed my little Sunfish dinghy from Grand Island across the Niagara River to eat a picnic lunch. This was just a normal September outing. Today I imagine the Border Patrol might shoot a missile at me.
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| Peace Bridge between Buffalo. NY and Canada in 2007. Somehow I doubt this image is what that once-tranquil border looks like today. |
... Canadians have been scarce at cultural attractions, sporting events and shopping malls in the area since President Trump threatened Canada with tariffs two weeks into his second administration (following through on those threats March 4), and spoke of adding the country as the 51st state.
But that absence has been deeply felt, said Anthony Sprague, general manager of the Buffalo Bisons baseball club, the top minor-league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, who are facing off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Canadians typically comprise a quarter of the club’s fan base at its downtown Buffalo stadium, he said. This season, that share has shrunk to 10 percent.
The team began receiving season ticket cancellations even before the baseball season got underway in March, Mr. Sprague said. “The narrative was all the same: ‘Nothing against you guys, we love you guys, but we need to take a stand by not coming across the border.’”
Tensions aren’t likely to dissipate anytime soon after Mr. Trump declared an immediate end to trade negotiations Thursday. His decision followed an angry post on Truth Social over an ad sponsored by the province of Ontario featuring President Ronald Reagan denouncing the use of tariffs. ...
The linked article is granular and devastating. Maybe both sides will have to rename the historic bridge?
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