Canadian politicians spent months trying to weaponize tourism against Florida businesses.
One governor just had enough of the games.
And Doug Ford just got humiliated after Ron DeSantis exposed his boycott scheme.
Ford Tries Using Tourism As Political Weapon
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Monday he won't take his usual winter vacation to Florida and encouraged other Canadians to stay home because of President Trump's tariffs.
"Let me tell you, it's gonna be the first time I'm not going to Florida," Ford told reporters.¹
Ford called Trump "one tyrant" and pushed Canadians to boycott Florida businesses that depend on snowbird tourism.
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/2000707491676467679?s=20
The premier spent 2025 waging economic warfare against American workers — banning U.S. alcohol from Ontario stores, canceling government contracts with Elon Musk's Starlink, and running attack ads featuring President Reagan during the World Series.
That last stunt made Trump so furious he broke off trade talks with Canada.²
Now Ford is trying to gut Florida's tourism industry by pressuring Canadians to stay home.
Governor Ron DeSantis wasn't about to let some foreign politician trash Florida workers without a fight.
DeSantis Drops The Hammer On Ford's Failing Strategy
DeSantis responded to Ford's boycott announcement with receipts.
The Florida governor posted statistics showing the state welcomed a record 34.4 million visitors in the second quarter of 2025 — up 0.5% over last year.³
"Actually we continue to break tourism records (and win Stanley Cups)," DeSantis fired back on X.⁴
https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/2000758446640038352?s=20
That Stanley Cup dig had to sting.
The Florida Panthers eliminated Ford's beloved Toronto Maple Leafs on their way to back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.
Toronto hasn't won a Cup since 1967.
DeSantis just reminded Ford that while Ontario politicians play games, Florida keeps winning.
The tourism numbers prove DeSantis right about Florida's strength despite Ford's boycott campaign.
Domestic travelers accounted for 91.5% of Florida's visitors in the second quarter, with 31.5 million Americans visiting the state.⁵
Overseas visitation surged 11.4% to reach 2.3 million visitors.
Florida adapted to Ford's political stunts by attracting even more American tourists and visitors from other countries.
Ford's Boycott Hurts Canadians More Than Florida
Here's what Ford won't admit — his boycott is backfiring on Canadian travelers.
Canadians who traditionally spend winters in Florida are getting caught in the crossfire of Ford's trade war posturing.
A SnowbirdAdvisor.ca survey found 70% of Canadians who fly south for winter still plan to visit the U.S. — down from 82% last year but hardly the economic devastation Ford promised.⁶
Canadian snowbirds who own property in Florida are paying higher premiums to book stays earlier than usual because they refuse to let politicians dictate their vacation plans.⁷
The boycott Ford encouraged is punishing Canadian families who just want to escape brutal winters, not Florida businesses that quickly replaced them with American and international tourists.
Ford evolved from Trump ally to Trump antagonist after tariffs started affecting Ontario jobs.
The premier who championed Trump's agenda in 2018 became the face of Canada's resistance by 2025.
Ford doesn't care about protecting Canadian workers.
He's looking for applause lines at home by taking shots at Trump and DeSantis.
DeSantis Wasn't Playing Ford's Game
DeSantis saw Ford trying to gut Florida tourism and hit back with the numbers.
Hotel workers, restaurant owners, theme park employees — these are real people Ford wanted to put out of work to score points with Canadian voters mad about tariffs.
DeSantis made it crystal clear Florida won't sit there and take it while some foreign politician tries using American jobs as leverage in his trade fight with Trump.
Ford pushed his boycott, DeSantis showed him the receipts proving Florida tourism just kept growing.
The strategy worked.
Florida tourism reached record levels even as Ford tried convincing Canadians to stay home.
https://twitter.com/ryangerritsen/status/2000941742909218847?s=20
Americans from other states came down to Florida and filled every hotel room the Canadians left empty.
And that Stanley Cup jab? DeSantis reminding Ford that Florida wins championships while Toronto chokes in the playoffs every single year.
Winners keep winning. Losers keep complaining about tariffs.
Ford wants to blame Trump's tariffs for Ontario's problems instead of admitting his province's economy was already struggling.
The premier thinks attacking Florida tourism will somehow force Trump to back down on trade.
That's not how Trump operates, and DeSantis knows it.
Florida will keep breaking tourism records while Ford's boycott accomplishes nothing except hurting the Canadian families who love visiting the Sunshine State.
DeSantis just proved conservative governors won't roll over when leftist foreign politicians try bullying American workers.
¹ Joshua Freeman, "Ron DeSantis reacts to Doug Ford saying he 'just can't' spend his winter vacation in Florida," CTV News, December 16, 2025.
² "Doug Ford under fire after Trump terminates Canada trade talks," Newsweek, October 24, 2025.
³ Isaac Callan & Colin D'Mello, "Florida's governor takes aim at Canadian boycott after Ford comments," Global News, December 16, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ "Ron DeSantis mocks Doug Ford, Canada boycott as Florida beats tourism records," Yahoo Finance, December 16, 2025.
⁷ "One U.S. State Breaks Canada's Travel Boycott Early Thanks To A Loyal Type Of Canadian Tourist," The Travel, October 4, 2025.
