Canada-US border likely to remain closed through June 21 due to coronavirus

The Canada-US border will likely remain closed to all non-essential travel through June 21 in order to keep citizens safe from the COVID-19 coronavirus in both countries.

Non-essential travel was initially restricted on March 21, as part of a 30-day effort to stifle the spread of the coronavirus, according to The Globe and Mail. The restriction was extended to May 21, but sources say Canada and the US are in talks that may result in the suspension of non-essential cross-border travel for another month.

Canada asked for a 30-day roll over, and it is expected that Washington will agree to the proposal.

US President Donald Trump, who is facing re-election this year, during a severe economic downturn caused by Covid-19, has been active in trying to get Americans back to work and the economy back on its feet.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated Tuesday that Ottawa is not likely to loosen travel restrictions at the US border anytime soon for non-essential travel.

“We're going to be very, very careful about reopening any international travel, including in the United States, before we feel that it is time," Mr. Trudeau told reporters on Tuesday.

"Our priority needs to be keeping Canadians safe. And that is the spirit in which we have engaged in constant and constructive dialogue with the Americans to talk about shared interests, including the border."

When the border does open, Trudeau said the government is "looking at stronger measures to make sure that we're following up appropriately with people who come over."

Trudeau added that it is crucial that "preventing transmission from outside of Canada into Canada once we have controlled the spread within Canada will be an essential part of ensuring that we don't fall back into a second wave."

Richard Mills, Chargé d’Affairs at the US embassy in Ottawa, said in a statement Tuesday that the "current travel restrictions maintain the flow of essential workers and commerce between our two countries while protecting our citizens through the reduction in non-essential travel."

Some provinces, including British Columbia and Ontario, strongly oppose the idea of reopening the US border until health authorities give the green light.

"It’s our view that the border should not open for visitors at this time," BC Health Minister Adrian Dix said Monday. "With respect to the United States right now, it would make no sense to have visitors traveling either from Canada to the United States and returning or to have visitors—not essential traffic, but visitors—coming from the United States to Canada."

The partial closure of the border does not disrupt essential travel, including truck and rail traffic carrying food and other goods deemed essential to supply chains as well as travel to get to work. And flights between both countries continue.

During a virtual question period on Tuesday, NDP MP Brian Masse, who represents the border riding of Windsor West, raised concerns about the coronavirus in the state of Michigan.

"The city of Detroit alone has more deaths than the entire province of Ontario," Masse said, adding that border communities of Sarnia and Windsor have a higher, per capita, infection rate than the rest of the whole province. Many workers from these localities cross the border daily for work, as they are essential workers in the US health care industry.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stated that all decision on Canada's border is made in the best interest of the Canadian people.

"We are in very close conversations with the Americans about next steps," she said.

Ms. Freeland declined to provide any specifics on what is currently being discussed with US counterparts, but added that the Canadian government is taking a cautious approach.

Goldy Hyder, President of the Business Council of Canada, said his organization supports an extension, suggesting border controls on non-essential travel has worked and not yet impeded on the flow of good across the border.

"Essential goods and services have been able to cross and should continue do," Mr. Hyder said. "Any reopening of the border to non-essential travel should be done cautiously and it should be the health and safety of Canadians first."