To Our Friends in Canada: Florida Needs You—and We Want You Back
Political disagreements should never erase generations of friendship between Canadians and Americans.
To our friends in Canada: We miss you. We need you. And, most importantly, we want you to know that you are still welcome here in Florida.
My friend Dana Lawrence posted a heartfelt message on Facebook yesterday asking Canadians to please consider returning to Florida. His message stayed with me because it expressed something many of us who live and work here feel deeply: The relationship between Canadians and Floridians is about far more than politics.
It is about friendship. It is about neighbors. It is about the familiar Canadian license plates that appear each winter, the friendships renewed at restaurants and beaches, and the seasonal residents who become part of our communities year after year.
We understand why many Canadians are angry, disappointed or reluctant to visit the United States right now. Words and political actions have consequences, and Canadians have every right to decide where they travel and spend their money. We are not asking anyone to abandon their principles or ignore genuine concerns.
We are simply asking our Canadian friends not to judge millions of Americans—or the people and small businesses of Florida—by the actions and rhetoric of one political leader.
The Decline Is Affecting Real People
The loss of Canadian visitors is not an imaginary concern. According to Statistics Canada, Canadian residents made 25.4% fewer return trips from the United States in 2025 than in 2024. It was the most sustained non-pandemic decline since digital recordkeeping began in 1972.
Florida is feeling that absence. An estimated 1.68 million Canadians visited Florida during the first six months of 2026—approximately 13.9% fewer than during the same period one year earlier, according to figures reported by Visit Florida.
Those missing visitors represent more than statistics. They mean fewer customers for independently owned restaurants, hotels, bars, shops, charter boats, attractions and entertainment venues. They affect servers, bartenders, musicians, housekeepers, retail workers and countless other Floridians whose livelihoods depend upon tourism.
Yes, Florida needs your tourism dollars. Those dollars support local jobs, family-owned businesses and public services through sales and lodging taxes. But this appeal is not only about money. We also miss your friendliness, your good humor, your compassion and the energy you bring to our communities.
Canada Has Been Part of My Life
My affection for Canada is personal.
I have swum in Lake Ontario. I have sailed on Lake Ontario. I have skated on Lake Ontario. If my memory serves me correctly, I may even have done a little ice fishing there. Those experiences are part of my life and part of the connection I have always felt with our neighbors to the north.
Canadians have never seemed like strangers to me. You are friends, customers, business owners, seasonal residents and extended members of our Florida communities.
Many of you have returned to the same neighborhoods and establishments for years. We notice when you arrive—and we notice when you are not here.
The bond between Canada and the United States has been built over generations. It is bigger than any president, prime minister, tariff, political slogan or election cycle. Governments will change. Policies will change. The friendship between ordinary people should be strong enough to endure them.
Our Invitation Is Sincere
To every Canadian wondering whether Florida still wants you here, the answer from this Floridian is an emphatic yes.
Come back for the beaches, warm winter weather and sunsets. Come back for the restaurants and local musicians you have supported. Come back to see the friends who look forward to your arrival each season. Come back because personal friendship can be stronger than political division.
We cannot undo every word spoken in Washington, and we cannot pretend the tensions do not exist. What we can do is greet you warmly, treat you with respect and remind you that one person does not speak for every American.
Florida needs its Canadian friends—but we also genuinely love and appreciate you.
Our door is open. The sunshine is waiting. We hope you will come back.
get where you’re coming from, and I think most of us here would agree that our Canadian friends are an important part of our Florida communities. We notice when they’re here, and we notice when they’re not. At the same time, I think we have to separate our local concerns from the bigger issues being worked through between the U.S. and Canada. Those trade negotiations involve some pretty important long-term economic and strategic issues for both countries, and they go well beyond tourism here in Florida. I certainly hope Canadians continue to feel welcome here, because they are, but I also think we can value those friendships while recognizing that our national leaders still have some legitimate issues to work through.
They will be back after WE fix the Trump problem. Not until then. Possibly some incentive for Florida voters to make better decisions and to get involved in a solution.
It’s unbelievable that our administration has sunk so low while reaping financial benefits that are self serving. I play a French sport, Petanque, that is played both in France and Canada. We have seen a decline in our Canadian snowbirds. It’s real and it’s sad. As Floridians and Americans we just want this nightmare to cease. We are all One 💫
Nah! We are good! Stay up north with your politics. America first!