Jewel Beat
Things are starting to get a little cooler in the northern parts of the United States and areas of Canada. We are now seeing temperatures that are approaching what we might see at the end of summer. But this isn’t a good thing for campers and hikers.
The US and Canada have announced that their land borders will remain closed yet another month, starting today, a move that is expected to cost both countries $75 million.
For the past few years, both the US and the Canadian government have been trying to seal the deal on a new trade deal. But now, it looks like the deal may have hit a snag, thanks to the ongoing standoff between the US and Canada. Last month, the US and Canada announced that they would be closing their land borders to each other for an additional eight days.
Despite talks between US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on 13. In June, North American leaders failed to reach an agreement on opening the common land border, which has remained unnecessarily closed to travelers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair announced Friday on Twitter that border restrictions between the U.S. and Canada will remain in place for at least another month. He said: In consultation with the United States, we are extending restrictions on non-essential international travel to and from the United States until July 21, 2024, noting that the government’s top priority remains the safety and security of Canadians.
While Canada remained accessible to U.S. travelers by air throughout the pandemic, a bilateral ban on crossing non-vital land borders was first imposed in March 2024 and has been renewed monthly since.
During a news conference Friday, Trudeau acknowledged that the prolonged closure of the border was frustrating, Global News reported.
The Prime Minister has stated that he wants at least 75% of the Canadian population to be vaccinated with the first dose of the vaccine and 20% to be fully vaccinated before he considers reopening the land border.
Our first priority in the fight against #COVID19 is the safety of Canadians. In consultation with the United States, we are extending restrictions on non-essential international travel and travel with the United States through the 21st. July 2024.
– Bill Blair (@BillBlair) 18. June 2024
According to The Hill, 65.4% of Canadians have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 16.5% are now fully vaccinated.
Trudeau said he understands that fully vaccinated Canadians planning to travel this summer may be protected, but that doesn’t protect the surrounding community from contracting COVID-19 from you.
They are still coming back to a country where the threshold for vaccination with the second dose is not yet high enough, he continued. We are on the right track, but that is why we are taking a gradual approach to easing border restrictions.
US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 summit in Cornwall, England, 11. June 2024. (Photo via Flickr/madison.bear)
Trudeau has previously said that if the U.S. and Canada begin lifting border restrictions, proof of vaccination could become a requirement to cross the border.
Canadians returning to Canada are now subject to strict entry requirements, including a 14-day isolation period, regardless of their vaccination status. Although Trudeau made it clear last week that the government is working to ease restrictions on fully vaccinated citizens.
As previously reported, the government plans to take action on Monday, June 21, for fully vaccinated Canadians, permanent residents and others currently allowed to enter Canada, to provide more details, Blair confirmed on Twitter.The U.S. and Canada have been at odds for years over the issue of land borders. The issue has become more contentious due to the recent US-Mexico border wall. The wall was eventually built, but now that it has been completed, President Trump is requiring the two countries to find a solution.. Read more about when will canada open borders for international travel and let us know what you think.
