|
The 'Looniest' time of the year
The Canadians are coming! The Canadians are coming! Actually, they're already here and have been for weeks. They're taking advantage of their strong dollar, commonly referred to as the "Loonie," and spending millions of dollars right here in Cheektowaga. We should welcome our neighbors with open arms.
For years we heard about the economic boom in the United States while Western New York remained in a financial funk. The strong Canadian dollar has finally offered us an opportunity to taste what we've been missing. Our Canadian friends are shopping, eating and sleeping in our town. Sure, the spending is mostly in the service industry, but tourism ushers fresh money to the region instead of the same recycled dollars that were already taxed before entering our wallets and purses.
The downside? Heavier traffic, fewer parking spaces and longer waits in line. It's worth it. Think back just a few short years ago when two U.S. dollars returned three Canadian dollars. Americans were heading to Canada in droves, spending freely. While there is still a strong American presence across the border, it's nice to see the reciprocation.
This is our economic boom. If we treat our visitors with respect, they'll be back for more visits. Russ Fulton, the director of marketing for Walden Galleria, noted that the mall spends zero promotional dollars in Canada, relying instead on word-of-mouth. Let our actions encourage further positive words in Toronto, Hamilton, Barrie, London and points in between.
How long the Canadian dollar will remain strong is unknown. The strength of their dollar is enhanced by lower taxes here, creating a Merry Christmas for shoppers and merchants alike. Let's hope our local lawmakers heed the advice of Niagara Hobby & Craft Mart's John Kavulich Jr.: Don't spend the additional sales tax revenue. Instead, cut the sales tax and keep the boom going. Anything else would be just plain "loonie".
| 
