29 members of the US Congress that are pushing to get the United States-Canada border back open are demanding an immediate reopening plan.
Rep. Brian Higgins serves as one of the co-chairs of the Northern Border Caucus and is leading the charge to form an immediate reopening plan.
A letter signed by Higgins and other representatives was sent to Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair.
“We are asking that the United States and Canada immediately craft a comprehensive framework for phased reopening of the border based on objective metrics and accounting for the varied circumstances across border regions. Additionally, we request consideration of any interim measures that may be appropriate to bilaterally ease restrictions on family members and property owners – including those with property on U.S. soil accessible only through cross-border transit – in order to restore the social bond that unites our two nations.”
“The continual 30-day extensions without a plan for how restrictions will be modified prolongs uncertainty for both communities and creates unnecessary tension as we approach each new expiration,” the letter said.
Leading a bipartisan push calling on the U.S. and Canada to begin preparing guidance for the reopening of the Northern Border https://t.co/aJR5AZrfTX pic.twitter.com/ZxARKfhH62
— Brian Higgins (@RepBrianHiggins) July 3, 2020
It later read “Continuing to extend border restrictions at 30-day intervals is untenable for the communities that have been separated from family and unable to tend to their property for over three months.”
The letter comes as the ban on most travel between the U.S. and Canada is halfway through its fourth month.
One U.S news outlet wrote “The ban has been an inconvenience for thousands of people who live along the border and who are used to crossing back and forth between Canada and the U.S. relatively easily; it has shut down cross-border tourism and has had an unknown effect on trade between the two countries.
The below map shows the stark contrast of Covid-19 infection between the two countries.
The border was first closed on March 24th, and is to remain closed until July 21st unless a further extension is put into place.
Under the current closure only “essential” travel over the land borders is permitted.
Essential travel includes:
– US citizens returning to the US
– Individuals traveling for medical purposes
– Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions or work
– Individuals traveling for emergency or government response
– Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g. cargo drivers)
– Members of the military
Here are the current travel restrictions between the US and Canada.
U.S citizens can NOT travel to Canada by land or air for non-essential purposes.
Canadian citizens CAN travel to the U.S by AIR for non essential travel
Canadian citizens can NOT travel to the U.S by land for non-essential travel.
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Marie odette
Tuesday 18th of August 2020
We have a dual citizenship And planing to go back to our residence in Florida in October we are in a region in Quebec (Matane) where there were no case so is crossing the USA border will be a problem of course we’ve will be in quarantine when at home
Kashlee Kucheran
Tuesday 18th of August 2020
Canadians are permitted to fly into the USA at any time. there are not restrictions for Canadians to enter the USA by air at this time. but the land border is closed. And yes, upon return you will have to quarantine by law for 14 days
Maria
Monday 17th of August 2020
I have family that are residents in the US. They are safe and I am happy about it. Very stressful of the whole situation. Canada is doing wonderful with this pandemic. The U.S. Is a disaster. Let's keep the border closed until we see some progress on the other side of the border.
Greg
Monday 27th of July 2020
The border should be opened, at the very least, to members of any of the trusted traveller programs who are cross border property owners, of that have residences on both sides of the border (ie: family/ spouses). i find the unnecessary fear of contracting/ spreading covid a little unnerving. The constant misrepresentation of the stats on news programs on both sides of the border are appalling. First off, flatten the curve campaign was to slow the number of deaths, not prevent them. Just to point out 1 example of statistical manipulation: the case of New york:
"As of May 1, New York City reported 13,156 confirmed deaths and 5,126 probable deaths (deaths with COVID-19 on the death certificate but no laboratory test performed), for a total of 18,282 deaths [source]. The CDC on May 11 released its "Preliminary Estimate of Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Outbreak — New York City, March 11–May 2, 2020" [source] in which it calculated an estimate of actual COVID-19 deaths in NYC by analyzing the "excess deaths" (defined as "the number of deaths above expected seasonal baseline levels, regardless of the reported cause of death") and found that, in addition to the confirmed and probable deaths reported by the city, there were an estimated 5,293 more deaths to be attributed. After adjusting for the previous day (May 1), we get 5,148 additional deaths, for a total of actual deaths of 13,156 confirmed + 5,126 probable + 5,148 additional excess deaths calculated by CDC = 23,430 actual COVID-19 deaths as of May 1, 2020 in New York City."
if you read through, New York is reporting to the CDC that the probables and the deaths above expected seasonal baseline levels are covid with absolutely no verification. (link to the source)
Anybody on any social media platform can post inflammatory anecdotal stories to evoke emotional responses, without stating one single fact. News agencies are no better, depending on the politics of their owners, either we are in great shape, or the end of the world is around the corner.
we get over every influenza type infections through herd immunization, where at least 2/3 of the population contracts the disease, suffers through the symptoms, and recovers. the virus in these people is no longer contagious and can't be passed on.
My opinion is that we should have quarantined all the compromised people in jan/feb/mar, encouraged all others to be exposed (much like being when i was a child one sibling got the chicken pox, mom made us all play together so all had it at the same time so the household wasn't dealing with chicken pox for a month.)
Ultimately, what ever you believe, do some research, get some facts, and don't rely on social media or the news to supply you the truth.
so, in conclusion, OPEN THE BORDERS TO ANYONE HAVING RESIDENCES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER!
Monique
Monday 20th of July 2020
Same boat, same rediculous boat of control over people. Yes the virus is real. No NHL is not more improtant then family. Do not open the border to kroger shoppers. Concessions need to be made for people suffering personally. LOVE IS ESSENTIAL. My husband has to work to support our family. He can’t spend 15 days in quarantine as I am doing as we speak. He hasn’t been home in 5 months. My kids haven’t seen him in 5 months. Rediculous.
LM
Sunday 19th of July 2020
My American boyfriend has not been able to visit me in BC since this closure. It’s really unwarranted to punish everyone for a virus that is like the flu and affects the same vulnerable populations. The fear mongering that Canadians have bought into is unreal and ridiculous. We have Trump haters and leftist media to thank for this. The border closure was originally to ensure our healthcare system was ready and able to handle it. But now they keep changing the reasons and extending the closure. I’ve lost all hope that the border will open this year. And now I’m going to have to quarantine for a second time after visiting my BF in the States. Just quarantine those with symptoms! I work remotely already so the isolation of a quarantine too is very hard. Too many Canadians have bought into fear. For the general population we have more chances of dying of heart disease, cancer, or being injured or killed in a car accident. So be fearful everyone and just stay in your homes and don’t go anywhere. It’s absurd. Life is meant to be lived. Living will always be hazardous to one’s health.