By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Concerns over the Trump administration’s policies, including increased border scrutiny and threats to transgender rights, have prompted a significant decline in Canadian attendance at US conferences. This led the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS) to create a dual conference in Seattle and Vancouver, using video conferencing to connect events. Other organizations, including the Canadian Association of Pathologists and the Work and Family Researchers Network, have also relocated conferences from the US to Canada due to similar concerns. This shift reflects a broader trend of declining Canadian travel to the US, attributed to both political and economic factors.
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Several conferences are relocating north of the border, a significant shift driven by Canadians’ growing reluctance to travel to the United States. This isn’t a surprising development, given the current political climate and concerns about personal safety and freedom. One company, for example, has a long-standing tradition of holding a large annual conference in Orlando, Florida, spending millions each year. This year, however, they’ve made the decision to relocate their event to either Canada or Mexico, illustrating a broader trend.
The reasons behind this change are multifaceted and deeply rooted in a lack of trust in the U.S. government and its policies. Concerns over arbitrary detentions and the inability to rely on the word of U.S. authorities are significant deterrents. Canadians are weighing the risks to their personal liberty against the benefits of attending conferences in the U.S., and the scale is increasingly tipping in favor of safety and security.
This trend extends beyond large corporations. Canadian keynote speakers are instructing their agents to prioritize conferences in Canada and other friendly locations, foregoing lucrative opportunities in the U.S. This demonstrates a widespread sentiment among Canadians, who are prioritizing their safety and well-being over professional engagements in the United States. It’s a tangible expression of a growing sense of unease and distrust.
The impact extends beyond Canadian citizens. U.S.-based academics, particularly those who are not yet citizens, are increasingly hesitant to travel internationally for conferences, fearing potential complications with their immigration status. This is particularly concerning for junior researchers, including PhD candidates, post-doctoral fellows, and assistant professors, who are crucial to maintaining the U.S.’s research leadership. This reluctance to attend international conferences contributes to a shrinking pool of talent and ideas within the United States academic system.
The implications are far-reaching. The decreased travel from Canada is impacting border towns and tourism-dependent businesses. Reports of reduced hotel and resort bookings near the border reflect the decline in cross-border travel. This economic impact is a significant consequence of the shifting attitudes towards U.S. travel among Canadians. The ease with which the U.S. was once the default location for global events is fading, with Canadians prioritizing their own nation’s stability and safety over convenience.
This shift isn’t just a matter of convenience; it’s about safety and freedom. The perceived risks, real or perceived, are significant enough to outweigh the benefits of holding conferences in the United States. For some, the perception of the U.S. as a safe and welcoming destination has eroded significantly. The “land of the free” is no longer seen as an automatic choice for international gatherings, and alternative locations like Canada are quickly becoming a much more attractive option.
Adding to the complexity, there are questions about why some Canadian events were originally scheduled in the U.S. in the first place. While the U.S. possesses a larger number of conference centers and hotels compared to Canada, and often offers competitive pricing and incentives, the shifting priorities now make the risk versus reward ratio overwhelmingly unfavorable. The convenience and potential cost savings of U.S. locations are now heavily outweighed by concerns about personal safety and political uncertainty.
The situation highlights a fundamental change in the relationship between the two countries. The once easy flow of people and events across the border is being restricted by growing concerns about the U.S. political climate and its potential impact on the safety and well-being of Canadian citizens. The increasing reluctance to travel to the U.S. points to a deeper erosion of trust and a reassessment of priorities, which is changing the landscape of international conferences and significantly impacting the economy on both sides of the border. The trend is likely to continue until the underlying issues that fueled this shift are addressed.