JASON SETNYK
Traffic heading south from Cornwall into the United States continued to decline at the end of 2025, as geopolitical tension, safety concerns, and a weak dollar appear to influence some travel decisions.
According to the Seaway International Bridge Corporation, total transits across the bridge in December 2025 dropped by 3.19% compared to the same month in 2024. Car traffic saw a 3.24% decrease, with 195,867 cars crossing in December 2025, down from 202,421 the previous year.
Truck traffic was also slightly lower, with 4,139 crossings compared to 4,175 in December 2024-a decline of 0.86%.
Holiday demand in the lead-up to Christmas may have helped steady truck traffic.
This decline aligns with a broader trend. Statistics Canada data from fall 2025 also indicated year-over-year drops in Canadians returning from U.S. trips, both by air and by land, suggesting growing reluctance to travel south of the border.
Some Canadians’ hesitation may also stem from reports of Canadians being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2025, and at least one Canadian dying while in ICE custody, adding to concerns about cross-border encounters.
That hesitation may be further driven by high profile incidents such as the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Minneapolis mother Renée Nicole Good by an ICE officer, which has sparked widespread protests and debate over federal enforcement practices.
Compounding that were broader geopolitical shocks, including the controversial U.S. operation that resulted in the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and provocative rhetoric about seizing Greenland-alarming some NATO allies and fueling perceptions of instability.
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