Canadians flee Florida, worrying business owners

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WFLA) — An estimated 60,000 Canadian citizens flock to Florida each year, including many “snowbirds” who spend their winters in the Sunshine State.

In the wake of a new Trump administration policy requiring background checks and fingerprints if they plan to stay more than 30 days, as well as an ongoing trade war with our neighbors to the north, some Canadians say they’re leaving Florida for good.

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“I live here six months. This is my home, but I’m leaving April 2nd,” a Canadian woman named Susan told NBC affiliate WBBH. She wasn’t comfortable giving her last name, fearing Canadians could become targets amid escalating tensions with U.S. leadership.

Susan was just one of several Canadians who said they’re selling their properties with no plans to return to Florida.

“We don’t want to be the 51st state, but we just want to be very good allies and wants things to go back to the way they were,” Canadian Janet Rockefeller said.

One family had plans to put down permanent roots in Florida, but have been eyeing other sunny locations like Mexico.

“The truth of the matter is, if I hadn’t prepaid everything and wasn’t here and your weather wasn’t so damn nice, I’d go home now,” Canadian Barry Presement told WBBH.

Presement’s wife, Ruth, wants to make clear that Canadian citizens still have plenty of love for Americans.

“We love the Americans,” Ruth Presement said. “No issue, but its very disturbing to have the president that he doesn’t need Canada for anything.”

Some Canadian homeowners are taking a wait-and-see approach, but some business owners said they’re worried this could affect their bottom line.

“It’s not only having a negative impact on the tourism market, but business as a whole,” Cole Peacock, who owns a business called Seed and Bean Market, told WBBH. “You need those extra visits to kick that profit margins to another level.”

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