Valerie Maby has lived on Campobello Island in New Brunswick most of her life, but these days is not easy.
The islanders have become involuntary victims of US President Donald Trump’s effort to remodel the international commercial system.
Cross -border relationships have been frayed, and Canadians in this advanced position 14 kilometers long in Fundy Bay feel isolated and vulnerable.
“We don’t have a service station here. We don’t have a bank here,” Maby said. “We are quite isolated, and it is difficult to try to drive an hour to reach their own country.”
Due to geography, many of the more or less residents of Campobello depend largely on crossing the bridge to the nearest city, Lubec, Maine, for gas, groceries and needs.
But residents are now charged 25 percent in Canadian tariffs on the American goods they bring on the border. And they are preparing for the impact of American rates scheduled to return on April 2.
“I think we are left out to fend for ourselves,” Maby said. “We are part of Canada, but nobody seems to recognize that.
“I don’t think they understand. You have to live here to understand it.”
Without a ferry throughout the year, people have no choice but to travel to Maine for some needs, or through Maine to get to Canada Continental.
Life on the island means traveling to Maine through Daily Essentials and driving an hour through the State to cross Canada in St. Stephen to obtain medical care or other government services.
In the summer months, a ferry runs from the island of Campobello to the island of Deer and then towards the continent.
‘We are retaliation with tariffs about our own people’
The mayor of Campobello, Harvey Matthews, has asked Ottawa an exemption from tariffs for residents. Until now, he has not had any response.
“It’s a bit discouraging for your own country to do that,” he said.
“Something needs to change because we are retaliation with tariffs for our own people. It simply makes no sense. A little. Not for me.”
Minister Susan Holt said her government has also tried to obtain “those carved exemptions” for Campobello residents but without success.
“We want to see an exemption instead,” said Holt. “So we have not yet been successful with the federal government to obtain that … promulgated, but we have not stopped pressing them to do it.”
The Federal Finance Department, which is responsible for Canadian tariffs, did not agree on a CBC application for an interview.
Campobello Store takes requests
Meanwhile, Praveen Chindaluri is seeing many new faces where he works in Campobello Value Foods.
He said that some people “are not willing to cross the border due to these tensions that happen”, with border agents sometimes “reviewing each and every one of the things in the car” to impose tariffs on larger purchases.
The store is doing what it can to fill the void, bringing food and other products to help residents avoid some of their shopping trips to Maine, Chindaluri said.
“People come here and are saying [us] new products, whatever they want. “
The Wendy Smart customer said it has reduced its crosses only “two or three times” this month. The whole situation has it in a state of constant concern.
“You are on the edge worrying about this, you worry about that, you wait and pray for the best.”
She is crossing the fingers that it does not get worse, but with more rates that are coming, “it will not be good,” he said. “This is how we live. These rates will affect so many people, many different things.”
Necessary passports: without exceptions
Meanwhile, the long -standing clemency granted to the island residents that cross Lubec from Campobello has ended under Trump’s return.
Since 2009, Canadians have been forced to present a passport, a Nexus card or a fast card (free and safe trade) while crossing the US border by land or water. For air trips, that requirement was presented during January 2007.
But according to Campobello residents, they often stirred with a driver’s license and a birth certificate.
Matthews said the recent change took many offices because “the passports of many people here had expired.”
That led the village to organize a passport event earlier this month. A photographer was brought from Saint Andrews, who took photos of approximately 75 residents who needed a passport, and Service Canada officials continued to help with the paperwork.
Now Matthews believes that such events will be necessary until twice a year Yes The current political climate persists.
Renewed impulse for ferry throughout the year
Ron Beckwith, whose house faces his “neighbors and friends on the other side of the water” in the United States, said that the recent friction on the border is adding fuel to the fight for a ferry throughout the year to Canada Continental.
“We need something we can count on,” said Beckwith. “We need a ferry sponsored by the government to connect back to Canada.”
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure operates several free transfers in the province, including one from the continent Lete to Deer Island.
But the ferry that connects Deer Island to the island of Campobello extends only from June to September and costs $ 25 in each direction for a driver and a vehicle.
Holt acknowledged that “there is a challenge that must be addressed,” but she made no commitment.
Beckwith said residents “have the right to connect with their own country without having to have Donald Trump’s permission or any other US president to return to his own country.”
“That border could literally close. I see a different possibility, especially with this type.”
Tense relationships
Maby said that the most difficult part to live on the island at this time is the tension he is putting in his relations with his American neighbors.
“As for the president, I don’t care. As for the American people, I love you. Half of my family is in the United States, my daughter and my son -in -law and my two grandchildren, most of my cousins. You know, we live on a border. Families are divided.”
She worries that with increasing tensions, things will continue agarially.
“I’m afraid that Americans will begin to hate Canadians and that Canadians will begin to hate Americans. And I think that’s … a shame. I really do it.”
“We have always been friends, especially in border cities. I just don’t see their point. I don’t understand.”
