The Cascade Gateway Dashboard, a collaborative tool between the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and the Washington State Department of Transportation, shows how much the number of travellers has dropped.
In February 2025, daily southbound traffic was around 3,500 vehicles a day, down from around 5,000 in February 2024. In March 2025, compared to last year, the number of folks that crossed over into Washington from B.C. was almost halved.
From the Peace Arch Border Crossing, Gateway1890 is a short five-minute drive.
Google Maps
The well-reviewed pub offers cheap burger nights, affordable fish and chips and other events and community gatherings like trivia nights.
Owner and operator Slavin was born and raised in B.C., has kids in the province, and has worked in Blaine for nine years. We asked how he feels about political tensions putting the livelihoods of hard-working people at risk.
“With a strong tie to Canada with family and so many friends, it is very frustrating. But at our level, our little corner of the US, we need to support each other on both sides when you are a border town.”
Slavin referenced COVID-19 and the impact it had on both sides.
“As a small town, we need to have the traffic stop in to sustain. We were starting to pick up after COVID-19 and see the city thrive again; this is a definite hit to our small city on the border.”
Slavin has also heard from gas stations how much Canadian traffic has declined.
“For Blaine, that is one of the ‘hubs’ for Canadians to have parcels delivered to and picked up; that has dropped too. One owner said the last three to four weeks has seen an 80 per cent drop in business. For us, we have seen a drop since February of 30 per cent in sales in February and a 27 per cent drop in March over last year.”
Social media amplifying border business fears
It’s a challenging situation for everyone involved. B.C. residents are being discouraged from travelling to the States and buying American products, and American businesses that aren’t necessarily contributing or taking part in the political back-and-forth suffer as a result.
It seems to be a lose-lose situation for American business owners.
As Slavin tells Daily Hive, many business owners like him are just regular people who are, as he says, “stuck in the middle” of this political dispute. And the things that people are saying and suggesting on social media aren’t helping.
“It’s very hard to see comments on [Facebook] and social media saying ‘we will not come to your place for four years, we won’t buy anything American.'”
Slavin is a Canadian of 45 years and wishes that people would think more of family-owned businesses like his, “the ones that give jobs to local residents, the ones that can’t rely on large companies and franchise purchasing to save costs. We need to support. Support both sides, the families that are working hard each day to keep all things around them going.”
The detention stories haven’t helped. Last week, the Government of Canada issued a travel advisory for Canadians.
“Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders, and the Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet entry or exit requirements for the United States,” reads the advisory.
“Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities. If you are denied entry, you could be detained while awaiting deportation,” it adds.
Are you someone who wants to travel to America but can’t out of fear of detainment? What are your reasons for continuing or stopping U.S. border travel?