About 1.54 million Canadian residents returned home from the U.S. in a vehicle last month, which is 0.9 per cent less than the number who made the trip in January 2024, according to data from Statistics Canada. (The Logic)

Talking point: It was the first time the number has dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting some Canadians are heeding calls to avoid travel to the U.S. over President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and talk of turning Canada into the 51st state. On Feb. 1, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Canadians spend their summer vacations closer to home. That got the attention of the U.S. Travel Association. It warned a 10 per cent drop in Canadian travel could result in US$2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 fewer jobs. On the flip side, the number of U.S. residents entering Canada by automobile was up 23.3 per cent in January compared to the same month last year.