Small outfitting businesses and mom and pop shops in New Brunswick, Canada, are worried about threats to turn away Americans traveling there to hunt and fish. The ongoing trade war is escalating tensions between the two countries.

In September, New Brunswick Premiere Susan Holt announced new measures to deal with tariffs imposed by the U.S. government. Among them is to “explore giving the minister of natural resources the authority to restrict the issue of fishing and hunting licenses,” something that does not sit well with locals.

“Putting this industry into that trade war is completely asinine,” Larry Adair, owner of a New Brunswick lodge and hunting guide business, told CBC News. “A lot of our small outfitters, it would devastate them.”

"Panic; I think that sums it up the best. Just plain panic. I’m a bit astonished and scared,” Debbie Norton, co-owner of a hunting and fishing guide business, told CBC News. “I would have to say that probably over 90 percent of business in the hunting and fishing outfitting industry in the province comes from Americans.”

President Trump recently signed proclamations to ban the importing of certain Canadian products, including alcohol, and imposed a 50 percent tariff on other products.

“We can’t control what Trump does. But we can control what we do here at home,” said Holt. “New Brunswick makes great products. We make great beer. We have businesses here that employ hundreds of New Brunswickers in good-paying jobs, and they deserve our support.”

Maine and New Brunswick share a 320-mile border. The province is home to 883,000 people and is known for its beautiful coastline, high tides, world-class fishing and robust hunting.

About Hunt 2 Conserve

Hunt 2 Conserve is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Its mission is to advance a legacy of hunting and conservation by educating, activating and developing stewards and defenders of these fundamentally American ideals. For more information, go to hunt2conserve.org.