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Canada/US Border

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U.S Border Set To Reopen November 8th

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The U.S government says its border with Canada will open on November 8th.

Fully vaccinated Canadians will be able to cross land borders, which have been closed since March of 2020.

Kenora MP Eric Melillo says that’s good to hear.

“That’s great news. Many families have been separated and to have that opportunity to reconnect is going to be so great for so many,” states Melillo.

“Of course economically as well it’s incredibly important for both countries to once again have people crossing in both directions.”

Melillo adds there are still some questions about mixed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and whether the U.S will allow those people to cross the border.

“Because the U.S has not listed which vaccines will be recognized and many Canadians with mixed doses still aren’t sure if they will be authorized to cross the border because there have been complications with other areas and other jurisdictions. That’s still a question we need answered.”

Canada opened up its side of land borders to American visitors back in early August.

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Canadian Chamber Wants Detailed Reopening Plan

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The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is pushing for the federal government to release a detailed plan, on lifting border restrictions.

President and CEO Perrin Beatty says businesses in the travel and tourism sector employ 1.8 million Canadians across the country.

He says these workers deserve clarity on what things will look like after the pandemic, “I reiterate our call for the federal government to immediately release a comprehensive national plan to reopen our economy, to release its strategy for reopening the Canada/US border and to put in place a clear vaccination certification process to support the recovery of the industry in the Canadian economy.”

Beatty says addressing these issues cannot wait any longer for fear of long lasting changes and job losses.

“At some point, the government has to decide whether being vaccinated is meaningful and whether it is prepared to adjust government regulations that affect people’s mobility based on whether or not they have been vaccinated,” Beatty says.

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Border Closure Extended One More Month

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The Canada/U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel for at least one more month.

A Facebook post from Wayne Long, the MP for Saint John-Rothesay in New Brunswick, said the closure has been extended until at least Aug. 21.

The latest agreement to keep the border closed was set to expire on July 21.

On Monday, the prime minister said his government will continue working hard to keep Canadians safe and to keep the economy flowing.

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Border Closure And CERB Both Extended

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The federal government has announced the Canada/U.S. border closure has been extended to July 21st.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says both governments have agreed to extend current border measures by 30 days.

“It was the right thing to further extend by 30 days our closure of the Canada/US border to travellers other than essential services and goods. We will continue to watch carefully what’s happening elsewhere in the world.”

Trudeau adds “this is an important decision that will keep people in both of our countries safe.”

He notes the situation is changing rapidly and they are adjusting constantly to ensure the right measures are in place for Canada.

Meantime, the government is also extending the Canada Emergency Response Benefit eligibility period by eight weeks as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The Prime Minister says if you’ve been getting the CERB and you still can’t work or still can’t find work, you will keep getting $2,000 a month over the next few weeks.

Justin Trudeau says over the next couple of weeks they will monitor the economy and the progression of the virus to determine if changes need to be made to relief programs.

He notes other programs including the wage subsidy and employment insurance will be reviewed to ensure they are working effectively.

Trudeau says the primary goal for the government is to make sure these programs are working for everyone who need it.

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Canada/U.S. Border Closed For Another Month

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Another blow to the local tourism industry as the Canada/U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel until late June.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says both countries have agreed to extend the closure by another 30 days to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The agreement was set to expire on Thursday.

Trudeau says “The decisions that we are taking are very much made week-to-week in this crisis. The situation is changing rapidly and we’re adjusting constantly to what is the right measures for Canadians.”

He notes “Get that balance right between keeping people safe and restoring an semblance of normality and economic activity that we all rely on. We’re going to keep making those decisions as time goes on. It was the right thing to further extend.”

Trudeau adds it’s too early to tell when the border will be allowed to open for non-essential travel.

“We will continue to watch carefully what’s happening elsewhere in the world and around us as we make decisions on next steps.”

 

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Canada-US Border Extension Expected

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While the US/Canada border won’t be opening any time soon to non-essential travelling, Health Minister Patty Hajdu suggests Canadians may want to consider whether it’s worth making the trip.

Hajdu spoke to Acadia Broadcasting’s John Ongaro this morning.

The federal health minister says the price of health care in the States may be troubling to some.

“As travel resumes and it’s not today, it will be really important for people to check their travel insurance…if it’s even available. They’ll need to check to see if they are covered for coronavirus, which it likely won’t be,” Hajdu said.

The Health Minister says if you get sick in the United States it could be stressful from a number of perspectives including the cost.

Hajdu says the federal government is currently working on extending the closure of the Canada/US border to non-essential travel and expects a formal announcement to be made sometime soon.

The Prime Minister hasn’t confirmed yet if the US/Canada border will continue to be closed up until June 21st as some have suggested. During his morning briefing on COVID-19, he reaffirmed that talks are continuing and that they have been productive.

“As we move forward we will continue to work with the US administration and I can highlight that that work has been positive and constructive. I have spoken with President Trump a number of times over the past weeks and our conversations have always been very positive,” Trudeau said.

The Prime Minister says talks are continuing and they will be making their decisions in a timely fashion in these unprecedented times.