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EDITORIAL: Border blues

Canadian are heading south for an overnight stay and shopping to take advantage of new cross-border allowances and the high dollar.

Canadian consumers are heading south for an overnight stay and shopping to take advantage of new cross-border allowances and the high dollar.

It seems many are willing to spend the time in border line-ups and pay for the extra gas to save about 14% on many items and have access to a wider variety in clothing and other consumables.

The downside is that local retailers are taking a hit, and when they do, they cut back on new hires and those much-hated taxes (which pay for health, education and other important programs) take a hit, as well.

Canadians are understandably looking for bargains. But there may come a time when the lure of cheaper U.S. products will come back and haunt them.

More likely though, as the U.S. economy rebounds as housing sales are reportedly expected to do, the loonie will drop in value and so will the advantage of shopping down south.