FDFA

Hard fought recovery showing signs of progress as new Canadian border Duty Free model stresses collaboration 

There was a sense of hopefulness at the 2023 Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) Convention held last month in Toronto, the first full gathering of Canadian land border operators, suppliers, and industry stakeholders since the pandemic. While registration numbers were down 30% versus the last pre-COVID show in 2019, FDFA Executive Director Barbara Barrett tells […]

In Memoriam: Len DaSilva

Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association announced the very sad news that Len DaSilva has passed away. DaSilva was the Senior VicePresident and COO of West Coast Duty Free store for nearly two decades. “Len sat on the FDFA Board of Directors for several years and contributed greatly to Canada’s duty free industry. “Len was part […]

Frontier Duty Free Association cheers pledge of support for “hardest hit” industries from Canada’s Liberal party

The Liberal Party in Canada, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, last week pledged to provide a bridge program to sustain Canada’s hardest hit businesses, which includes the operators of Canada’s land border stores. The pledge will help the tourism, hospitality, conventions and festival sectors survive the enduring impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the […]

Canada eases border restrictions for vaccinated travelers, starting with Americans on Aug. 9; U.S. extends closure

Canada’s federal government announced Monday, July 19, that fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents who currently reside in the U.S. can travel to Canada for non-essential purposes without quarantining as of Aug. 9. Additionally, Canada announced that it will open its borders to fully vaccinated travelers from any country for non-essential purposes, with proof […]

FDFA petitions Canadian government for C$6.6 million in critical aid as land border duty free business remains shuttered

With Canada’s land borders with the United States shut down for all but essential traffic for more than 16 months and business in the country’s duty free stores down more than 95%, Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association is desperately petitioning the federal government for some relief to the crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The […]

Frontier Duty Free Association applauds Canadian Government support for the Hardest Hit sectors

The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has applauded the Canadian Federal Government’s long-awaited Fall Economic Statement released this week which centers around support for Canada’s hardest hit businesses. The FDFA joined together with the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses earlier this year in an effort to obtain much-needed relief for its land border members, whose […]

FDFA: Canadian government extends wage benefits for Hardest Hit Businesses after coalition appeal

A group of Canada’s businesses most impacted by COVID-19, which joined forces to help save two million Canadian jobs, received a positive response from the government. Last week the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses (CHHB)—of which the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) is a member — launched a campaign calling on the federal government to extend the […]

Status of Canadian border stores after closing of border with U.S.

The U.S. and Canadian governments agreed to close their shared border to non-essential traffic on Wednesday, March 18. While some stores that serve commercial trucks carrying essential goods have remained open, most others have closed. Barbara Barrett, Executive Director of Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association confirmed to TMI that CBSA (the Canada Border Services Agency) […]