Conflicting but promising signals on possible Canada-US border reopening

Speculation around the reopening of the US-Canada border draws conflict as the US has been applying pressure on the Canadian parliament to fully reopen the border by June 22. The border between the US and Canada has been closed for non-essential travel since March of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made it clear Canada won’t consider reopening the border until 75 percent of its citizens have received the coronavirus vaccine. Although, recent reports indicate Canada may reach that desired goal by June 21, one day before the US plans to fully reopen the border.

Washington Democrat Governor Jay Inslee penned a letter to federal officials asking for the US-Canada border to immediately reopen.

In a letter sent to secretary of state Antony Blinken and secretary of homeland security Alejandro Mayorkas, Inslee urged them [at minimum] to partially reopen the border, according to The Northern Light.

"If a full border opening is not considered feasible, I would like to recommend that we prioritize the development of specific policies to partially open crossings," Inslee wrote in the letter. "The hardships being experienced along the US-Canadian border are significant, and measurable forward progress is needed."

Inslee acknowledged the affected businesses and the dire need for separated families to be reunited, with the only obstacle in the way being the closed border.

"The state of Washington and our friends in British Columbia stand ready to assist the federal governments in the development of pilot programs to safely open the border," Inslee wrote. "We share a sense of urgency in meeting the needs of our impacted communities, with more than 60 percent of BC residents having received a first dose of vaccination, and a similar percentage of Washingtonians vaccinated, we believe that we can significantly mitigate the health risks associated with reopening our border by continuing to follow a data-driven, science-based approach and the guidance of our public health experts."

The US-Canada border closure, extended monthly, will expire Monday, June 21, and the US plans to withhold from extending the closure.

Blaine's Deputy Mayor Mary Lou Steward, a small border town in WA, told King5 News that "It's been tough economically because we're a small place." Steward’s kids live across the border in Canada and she told King 5 News, "I could almost wave at them, but I can't see them," while discussing the impact the closure has had on her family.

The closure has had crippling effects for small border towns that rely heavily on traffic and sales tax revenues. According to data from the US Department of Transportation, over 7.7 million people traveled through the Blaine crossings in personal vehicles in 2019, compared to this year’s 57,000.

After a recent briefing between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s top deputy, Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair, and Canadian border mayors, mayors are hopeful Canada will join the US in reopening the border on June 22.

Mayor Drew Dilkens of Windsor, Ontario told King 5 News he would be "shocked" if Canada proceeded differently. "I'd be shocked if there isn't a reopening of the border by June 22," Dilkens said.

"He never, he never said those words. But every other word and all other indicators lead them, lead me to believe that everything is tracking for a June 22 reopening," said Dilkens. "And so from a Canadian perspective, the prime minister has been very clear that he won't consider reopening the border until at least 75% of the population has a first dose. Minister Blair indicated that we expect Canada to be there by June 21. So, I know there's pressure on the US side for the border to open. Frankly, there's pressure on the Canadian side for families to be able to reunite."

Deputy Mayor Steward of Blaine, WA believes there will be restrictions and requirements for those wishing to cross the border when it reopens. "I have a feeling it's going to be more nuanced than 'the border is open,'" said Steward, speculating that only those vaccinated or are visiting family will get to cross into the other country.

Although there has not been an official statement, nor has the Biden administration provided a timeline on the reopening of the US-Canada border, speculation for June 22 is promising.