On E-day the U.S. president couldn’t resist. Canadians should “vote for the man” who will make the nation part of the States, he posted.

The border is “an artificially drawn line from many years ago.” Canada, he added in a final flip, “doesn’t make sense as a country.”

Really?

There sure are a lot of maple leaf flags around town lately. Especially along the river, facing New York. In your face, Donald. We usually suck at patriotism, but this time it’s different.

This week’s election was all about Trump, as you know. Here in gelato-and-horse-carriage paradise, the America thing is of particular importance.

Of every 10 people swarming Queen Street, filling a winery café or sitting in the Shaw, three are from across the border. Moreover, they bring $1.40 dollars with them. NOTL and greenbacks have a deep relationship — and now it’s being tested.

“Our American friends are typically apologetic for what’s currently happening,” Q124 hotel partner David Jones tells me. “It’s important that we are welcoming to all visitors.”

Wait times to cross at Buffalo, the Falls or Lewiston have crashed lately. On Monday, for example, they averaged two minutes. Officials say bridge traffic is down by a quarter.

Canadians heading south for more than 30 days must register with American officials. Folks leaving or entering the U.S. are routinely asked to surrender their phones. If you’ve been dissing the orange guy lately on social media (like me) expect grief.

Our new riding, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, is ground zero for tourism, border crossings … and potential trouble. Falls mayor Jim Diodati, for one, is raising the alarm about a potential wave of migration that could flow north as Trump’s deportation fetish kicks into high gear. (By the way, Diodati was once a MAGA fanboy. No more.)

“It’s a big border, and in a lot of places there’s no fences, and we’re just thinking, how much can one country handle?” he said on the record.

“How much can one city handle? … You’re always waiting for what’s next. He’s so mercurial, so unpredictable. You never know what’s going to come out of his mouth.”

All this is just beginning. We’re a hundred days into the reign of Trump with over a thousand to go. Unless something dramatic happens — like a massive defeat in the 2026 midterm elections — we should gird for years of tariffs, tight borders and trash-talking Canada.

Suddenly the local Chamber of Commerce’s $1.2 million ad blitz, partially aimed at bringing in more American visitors doesn’t look so wise.

Should that budget be directed instead at a pool of six million people living an hour away, maybe? With no border to cross? Or surly customs guys to deal with? Like the GTA?

These days 43 per cent of the 11 million people that come into Niagara to spend money come from across the river. Before Trump, that was peachy. With Trump, we understand that for too long we’ve been milking the same cow.

“Yes, we do have an American campaign going on,” says local chamber manager Kathy Weiss, “but we’re also absolutely focusing on the GTA, Kitchener-Waterloo and Quebec. Most of what we’re spending in the U.S. is on social media.”

Will the new Carney government bring more stability, if not more folks from across the river?

“I’m hoping so. In that initial conversation Trump treated Carney respectfully, so that bodes well for a little bit of stability. But, as we all know, Trump likes to talk, and do some pretty nasty things, and ensure he’s in the middle of our attention. The whole world is looking at the U.S. now with a very different lens.”

And looking back at us, what do they see? Yes. The flag.

Garth Turner is a NOTL resident, journalist, author, wealth manager and former federal MP and minister. garth@garth.ca