Ontario Snowbirds

Many of the local people here in Lee County complain about the people who come down to have their holidays. They say we crowd the roads, drive too slow, cause lineups at their favourite restaurant and generally are a nuisance. A report in the local paper today featured the value in dollars an employment due to the influx of Canadians.

The average Canadian tourist or snowbird spend millions of dollars and the one who come for a week add $7,000 to $10,000 to the economy. The ones who live here for half a year usually add $30,000 to the local coffers. It was a very convincing article and one of the best to make the local crackers  aware of our contributions. Canadians usually settle a little further north but there is a trend for people to come further south to guarantee the best weather Florida has to offer.

I agree that there is an overflow at restaurants and on the roads but really that is the good part and in so far as an inconvenience to the locals they should be smiling all the way to work or play. There appears to be a attitude change and a more optimistic view of the future. Buildings are being built again and that feeling that the sky is falling has disappeared from the lips of most of  the people here in Florida.