Canadian residents made approximately 1.9 million return trips from the United States by automobile and air in September, up 6.8 per cent from the same month last year. It was the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year growth, according to Statistics Canada figures reported by The Canadian Press.

Traffic increased in the other direction, too. U.S. residents made approximately 1.8 million trips to Canada, an increase of 17.2 per cent from September 2025 and the eighth consecutive monthly year-over-year gain.

But the recovery in travel remains incomplete. Canadian residents’ return trips from the U.S. by automobile rose 5.6 per cent compared with September 2025, but remained 31.1 per cent below September 2024. Return trips by air increased 11.6 per cent year over year while remaining 18.7 per cent below their September 2024 level.

Go Ad Free

The increase comes during an unresolved trade dispute between the two countries. The Canadian Press reported that Washington introduced additional import restrictions in September, following the breakdown of negotiations in August and further tariff measures by both countries.

The travel figures do not establish why individuals crossed the border or whether their political opinions changed. Treating the increase as proof that a travel boycott has ended would go beyond what these numbers demonstrate.

There are also qualifications within the official release. Statistics Canada attributes the sharp increase in American visits partly to Labour Day falling one week later in 2026 than in 2025.

The agency also warns that incorporating additional NEXUS Highway traveller records affects comparisons with previous years. September’s numbers are preliminary, with complete counts scheduled for November 23.