Border Opening Talks Underway Between Canada and the U.S.

May 16, 2021 ctn_admin

Top Canadian and American officials have begun debating when the Canada-U.S. border might open.

Both Bloomberg and the CBC report talks are taking place, albeit not at the ministerial level.

The current border closure agreement, which allows only for essential traffic to move across the land border between the two countries, expires on Friday of this week (May 21).

It’s likely the closure will be extended again given the stubborn COVID-19 numbers in parts of Canada. But with vaccinations on the rise in Canada and vaccinated U.S. residents tossing aside their masks and partying like its 1999, it could be that things will change by early or mid-summer.

Bloomberg cited three sources for their story, which said the two countries are discussing whether they might create a system where vaccinated travellers would enjoy “relaxed” quarantine and testing measures.

Getting rid of quarantine rules for fully vaccinated Americans would go a long way to boosting Canada’s tourism sector for the summer, as well as provide for family reunions and other trips.

The CBC quotes an official with direct knowledge of the issue as saying that no decisions are expected in the short term but that there is hope for “positive news as summer progresses,” especially in light of the increase in vaccination rates in Canada.”

The official also cautioned that crushing the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic remains the priority at the moment.

The CBC said a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair noted that talks between officials about the border happen regularly and cautioned that the current measures could stay in place for some time.

Blair’s communications director, James Cudmore, told the network that Blair “is in regular contact with his American counterparts about issues relating to our shared border. Until the conditions on both sides of the border change very substantively, the measures at our borders will remain intact. The decision on when and how to reopen the border will be made in Canada, with the best interest of Canadians as our top priority.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been calling for tougher border measures, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Canadian government has done a good job on the issue.

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