Regarding the impact of cross-border shopping on local business, I agree that it is a problem.
I am, in fact, part of the problem. I cross the line at least once a week for gas, milk, eggs, and cheese. The problem is, I save minimum $30/week filling up two vehicles. When we do a major grocery shop, we spend $160 in the States on what costs us $200 here. This is taking into account a $1.05 exchange rate. Over the course of a year we save almost $2,000 shopping across the line.
The unfortunate reality is, we have to make our dollar go as far as possible. The government needs to realize that the tariffs placed on items coming into Canada make them unaffordable in Canada. The money they make in tariffs, they lose in local sales. I hope things change, but until they do I will continue to shop wherever I can get the best deal. I have to. A level playing field would change that.
Harold Bernard