Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego wants Canadian visitors, businesses to feel welcome in her city

In the face of ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Canada on a national level, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego wants the nation’s northern neighbors to feel welcome in her city.

“No doubt Canadian visitation is down, and that’s not something we’d like to see,” Gallego told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday. “We hope that we’ll continue to have the great investments that we have had in the past and the strong partnership. I deeply respect Canada as a sovereign, separate nation and not the 51st state.”

Gallego acknowledged that Canadian travel at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is down 20%. But she pointed out that some carriers, specifically WestJet and Porter Airlines, have been adding capacity for flights between Canada and Arizona’s largest city.

“Overall, we’re seeing capacities — the number of seats available — down 3% since September of ’25,” she said. “So, that is dramatically different than many markets in the United States, where our Canadian partners are still seeing Phoenix as a key and important destination.”

Phoenix mayor has message for Canadian visitors, businesses

Gallego said the city has been working to bolster relationships with Canadian visitors and economic partners, including companies with mining and water infrastructure interests in Arizona, as President Donald Trump stokes a trade war with the neighboring nation.

“Visit Phoenix has been working hard to reach out to Canadian visitors and let them know they are welcome here and we deeply appreciate them,” she said. “On the mayoral level, our U.S. mayors have been working with Canadian mayors to try to deliver that same message, that we appreciate their separate country and want to continue the deep, mutually beneficial partnership that we have.”

In fact, Canada opened a trade office in Phoenix this year, Gallego said.

“We’re seeing that they do really value this partnership and they want to continue it,” she said.

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