Canadian island under siege in trade battle's grim standoff

Hey there! Let's chat about the small, tight-knit community of Campobello in New Brunswick, Canada. This little island is special because its only land link is a steel bridge approximately 260 meters long connecting it to Lubec, Maine.

For over 200 years, these folks have been marrying across the tiny strait that keeps them apart. But in recent times, an unexpected snag has arisen – a trade war declared by former U.S. President Donald Trump against Canada.

This war has brought some tough consequences for the 949 islanders. Thanks to counter-tariffs imposed by Canada, they've suddenly found themselves in a bit of a pickle. Their small grocery store and convenience store, which are the only options in town, aren't cutting it when it comes to meeting their needs.

"There's not much," a woman said as she left the store, with butter costing $10 a pound and a dozen eggs fetching $9 or $10. Their usual practice of crossing the bridge to do their grocery shopping in the U.S. took a big hit when the cost of their grocery basket increased by 25% overnight, in addition to the already unfavorable exchange rate.

Many inhabitants were anxious and worried about making ends meet. The elderly are worst off, as they can't afford the food in the island's grocery store, and they struggle to make the 2-hour, 20-minute round trip through Maine to get to St. Stephen, the closest Canadian city.

"We have no choice but to shop in Lubec," John pointed out near the ice cream counter. There's no gas station on the island, and there are no stores to buy items for fixing a sink or car. The island, protected by its red and white lighthouses, is now exempt from Canadian counter-tariffs due to its unique situation, but the inhabitants remain wary about the future.

They feel trapped in a situation where the rules keep changing, and the tense climate between the two countries casts a shadow over their good relations with their neighbors in Maine. Campobello, Lubec, and Eastport are all part of a single, interconnected community, the locals like to say.

With tourism being the second most important industry after fishing, many are worried about its future. The island's wild beauty attracts many American tourists, who come to visit the Roosevelt Campobello International Park, home to the breathtaking residence where U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt spent his summers.

Even though Campobello has been exempted from the counter-tariffs, islanders like Susan, manager of the Pollock Cove Seaside Retreat's small vacation cottages, have joined the "Buy Canadian" movement and stopped doing their shopping in Maine, out of principle. But others fear that their friends in Lubec may suffer from a decrease in clientele and close their businesses, as a decrease has been noticed at stores on the American side since March.

As Ulysse Robichaud, a resident on the island, rightfully points out, "It's our daily life that's affected. Everything costs more here." And he finds it difficult not to know if he'll be able to go home or not: "It depends on the border guards."

"It's like we're denied access to our own country," Ulysse summarizes, expressing the sentiments of many other islanders caught in this trade war limbo.

Now for something interesting – the electoral process on the island is unique. Evidently, Campobello votes 'blue' for a long time, but the island forms part of a large riding that includes Saint John. Despite repeated calls for a ferry service, both Conservative and Liberal governments have failed to deliver, leaving islanders like Ulysse feeling let down.

For the current federal election, all electoral materials, ballot boxes, and ballots are transported to Campobello by boat to preserve the integrity of the electoral process and the vote. Since border authorities on both sides of the border have the right to open the boxes, including the ballot boxes, Elections Canada chose to go the boat route. If the boat cannot reach the island, Elections Canada will retrieve the boxes by helicopter, highlighting the challenges of island life.

The unique situation of Campobello islanders, including John and Ulysse, has been highlighted by the recent political tension between the US and Canada, particularly the trade war over tariffs.
Despite their historical preference for the Liberal party, the electoral process on Campobello is distinct, with all materials being transported by boat or helicopter to preserve the integrity of the vote.
Local businesses, such as the grocery store and the Pollock Cove Seaside Retreat, have been impacted by the trade war, with many islanders choosing to buy Canadian out of principle or necessity, although this has led to fears of a decrease in clientele on the American side.
The residents of Campobello, such as Susan and Ulysse, are part of a larger, interconnected community with Lubec and Eastport, but the ongoing trade war and its unpredictable consequences, such as counter-tariffs and changing border policies, have left many islanders feeling trapped and anxious.