It helps somewhat, but Americans don't have a lot of understanding about the Canadian dollar, although in the nearby border states they do. I have to say that in 2008 we had 12,000,000 visitors from the U.S. That's the lowest number since recording tourism travel to Canada began in 1972. We used to be around 18,000,000 to 20,000,000 visitors from the U.S. In the last six to eight years we've seen a 40% drop. We've had fluctuations in our Canadian dollar since then. It comes and it goes. It affects it somewhat, but not dramatically.
It will help to keep Canadians in Canada a little bit more. Our travel deficit has ballooned. After the numbers come in for 2008, it should exceed $12 billion. In 2002 we had a $1.5 billion travel and trade deficit. It's going to be over $12 billion after the 2008 numbers come in. It's startling. That's a new record as well.
The numbers are certainly dramatic. I've been in travel and tourism for 40 years. I started as a busboy when I was 16 in 1968 and I'm 56 today. I have 40 continuous years in the travel and tourism industry.
In response to the question on a rapid fix, for 40 years we've been talking about the lineups at the border and the challenge of welcoming at the border, and asking why we, as a friendly nation, can't be friendly at the border. It has been an issue for the past 30 to 40 years. We just can't seem to care to get it right. It is discouraging that a country as powerful, intelligent, sophisticated, and friendly as we are can't get this right. Where's the leadership? Where's the central force that will pull us together? This is silly.