Yukon businesses feel good and bad about low Canadian dollar

If the low Canadian dollar has you leaving your sandals and shorts in the closet this winter, consider this that longed-for winter getawaycould be evenmore expensivenext year.

According Dennis O'Brien, who operates Marlin Travel in Whitehorse,that's because tour package companies often set their prices months in advance. Today's low dollar mean tomorrow's stingfor Canadian travellers.

"Ithink prices are up this year, but I think it's really going tobe noticeable in sixmonths' or a year's time," O'Brien said.

"The negotiations that are going on now are the ones that are really going to showup next fall, next winter."

The Canadian dollar this week hit 71 cents U.S., the lowest exchange rate for the loonie since 2003. O'Brien said he's already seeing an impact, with fewer Yukonerslooking to book trips to the U.S.

"Ihaven't had many requests in the last month or so for Vegas. Usually this time of year, you're getting requests for Vegas," O'Brien said.

Other retailers are also warning that consumers have yet to see the real impactof today'ssoft loonie.

Mike Pemberton, who manages Ashley Furniture in Whitehorse, said sticker pricesare negotiated and set months ahead of time,so they don't necessarily reflect the currentexchange rate. According to Pemberton,Canadian consumers will likely see those sticker prices go up later this year.

"There's going to be increases, guaranteed," he said."To me as a retailer, it's always better to buy now!"

Good for visitors

Not all businesses are worried about the low dollar, in fact, some Northern tour operators welcome it. They're anticipating that 2016 could be a busy year, as foreign visitors decide to get more bang for their buck in Canada.

"Things like low fuel prices and exchange rates we think will have an impact on people's visitationas they look forward to coming here in 2016," said Yukon's tourism director Pierre Germain.

"The low Canadian dollar will make Yukon and Canada more attractive."

Some Yukontour operators say they're already seeing a positive effect, with more foreign visitors coming through most of the year, not just in summer.