Bellingham, Wash., council pens letter to B.C. cities amid cross-border tensions [Video]

The mayor and council in an American city have penned a letter expressing a “commitment” to their “connection” with Canada amid ongoing tensions between the neighbouring countries. 

Bellingham, Wash., has long been a popular tourism destination for British Columbians looking to do a little shopping south of the border, with the town of around 90,000 people located 30 kilometres south of the border.

But since U.S. President Donald Trump started threatening and imposing tariffs on Canada and travellers have reported being detained at the border, there’s been a notable drop in visitors heading south in recent months, according to Statistics Canada. 

Recent data from border crossings in B.C.’s Lower Mainland shows the number of vehicles with B.C. licence plates heading south in April 2025, compared to the previous April, is down 51 per cent.

Now, a letter signed by Bellingham city council president Hollie Huthman and Mayor Kim Lund says the city hopes the …