Just got back from three days at Niagara Falls (the Canadian side, Ontario province) and three days in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. The US video will come tomorrow, but for today here's what three days in Canada looks like.



The footage was shot in the Clifton Hills section (the tourist area), near the Horseshoe Falls, at the base of the Falls, and up the Skylon Tower. Oh, and Marineland too. Where you can feed a baby beluga whale for $8 over the admission price.

Everything was more expensive on the Canadian side because of the weak US economy (and we all know who's to blame for that over the last seven years). An American dollar used to exchange at a rate of $1.30 - $1.40 Canadian, so anything that cost $5 in the States cost seven Canadian dollars (but both were worth the same amount). Now, with parity (one-to-one exchange rate), those prices are still the same on both sides of the border but you now get less Canadian cash for your American cash.

That explains why so many Canadians that live near the US border are doing lots of their shopping South Of the Border. Canada is using the States for pro-poor tourism, mostly thanks to them not having George W Bush as their country's chief...

Local designer Jimmy Lee swept his hand across a rack of simple, satin gowns.

“These dresses are classic and elegant — much more calm and subtle,” said the owner of dress boutique and tailor TT New York. “They’re not the big, beaded ball gowns we’re used to.”

Like any smart retailer, Lee has been studying and responding to his customers’ preferences. And like many of those along the U. S. border, Lee has noticed Canadian traffic influencing his decisions more than ever.

“Stores have to change to meet [Canadian] needs,” said Lee.

The influx of Canadian shoppers led Lee to places like Toronto, Hamilton and Mississauga to study demand in the Canadian market. He looked for popular styles (simple), sizes (small) and colors (purple, dark blue and red). Then he put what he saw into action with a line of Jimmy Lee dresses, designed specifically for Canadian shoppers.

“Business has gone crazy because of it. We can’t keep them in the store,” Lee said.

Thanks largely to the near parity of the Canadian and American dollars, TT New York’s sales are up 18 percent over last year. And while malls across the country scramble to fill holes left by closing stores, those in Buffalo Niagara, like the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls [US side of the Falls] and the Walden Galleria, are actually expanding.

Moral of the story? Never trust a Conservative government with your money. They'll just give it all to their rich business friends and screw your economy.

Listen: O Canada - Terrance & Phillip ... Under Blue Canadian Skies - Glenn Miller Band ... Bridge To Canada - The Noisettes (those are the tunes on the video).