Buffalo, New York area Congressman Brian Higgins
“Over a year ago, the United States and Canada announced that all non-essential travel between our two countries would be restricted to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Exceptions were made in limited cases and the people of Western New York and Southern Ontario accepted these as necessary measures to take in the face of the worst public health crisis of the past century. During this time, many of my constituents sacrificed – wondering when they’d be able to see their families and loved ones again, manage their properties, and tend to some of their business interests in Canada. Their livelihoods and personal lives have been deeply affected.” – Buffalo, New York area Democratic Party Congressman Brian Higgins
A News Release from the Office of Buffalo, New York area Congressman Brian Higgins
Posted April 14th, 2021 on Niagara At Large
The Peace Bridge between Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York, and other Canada-U.S. border crossings have been closed to all but “essential” traffic since March of last year.
With One Week to go before Deadline, Congressman Higgins Presses for Immediate Release of a Plan to Reopen the U.S. – Canada Border Higgins Says Status Quo With No Strategy is No Longer An Option
Northern Border Caucus Co-chair and Western New York Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) is calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to immediately advance concrete proposals for reopening the border between the United States and Canada.
The latest push comes just one week before the existing order banning non-essential travel between the two countries is set to expire on April 21, 2021.
In a letter to U.S. Secretary Mayorkas Higgins requests a meeting to discuss the challenges Western New Yorkers are facing and calls for immediate action, “I write you to advocate that the Department immediately advance concrete proposals for a phased re-opening of the Northern Border to our Canadian partners, and again call on the Department to immediately implement appropriate unilateral measures toward the normalization of the border, including promulgating a family reunification policy at least as generous at the policy implemented by the Government of Canada many months ago.”
Higgins is pressing for a partial reopening of the border by May and a full reopening by July.
In recent weeks Congressman Higgins has spoken to members of the Biden Administration about the border and government counterparts in Canada, releasing a joint statement with Canadian Member of Parliament Wayne Easter supporting bilateral coordination on the shared border.
The Congressman says U.S. and Canadian citizens have done their part to comply with necessary safety measures, but the existing situation can’t go on indefinitely. Higgins believes with precautions, family reunification measures could be implemented immediately.
He writes, “Over a year ago, the United States and Canada announced that all non-essential travel between our two countries would be restricted to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Exceptions were made in limited cases and the people of Western New York and Southern Ontario accepted these as necessary measures to take in the face of the worst public health crisis of the past century. During this time, many of my constituents sacrificed – wondering when they’d be able to see their families and loved ones again, manage their properties, and tend to some of their business interests in Canada. Their livelihoods and personal lives have been deeply affected.”
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce also launched an initiative this week to rebuild the binational relationship.
The campaign lists a plan to reopen the border as a priority<https://chamber.ca/news/canadian-chamber-launches-initiative-to-bolster-canada-u-s-trade-relations/>. “As vaccination rates increase, businesses need a plan from government on how the border will reopen that is underpinned by clear metrics and dates,” says the Chamber.
Land ports of entry between the United States and Canada first closed to non-essential travel in March of 2020 due to the pandemic.
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What’s his plan?Sent from my Galaxy
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No thanks. This pandemic is NOWHERE near under control.
Wayne Easter is an MP from PEI. As I recall, PEI doesn’t border the US.
For all border crossings and any communal events a Vaccination Passport is now a necessity. I had one for years for travel to Africa, Asia, South America and NZ/Australia. Did that make me feel my rights were in jeopardy? Nope. It protected me from endemic diseases in those areas and and them from me. What a novel idea!
We also have to deal with the idiot antivaxxers and anti maskers. When they find out they can’t cross the border or attend events without an immunization passport they might actually grow a brain. THEN they will realize rights come with responsibilities.
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No. Just plain no! It’s not safe.
We have family in Buffalo as well that we would love to see. Especially a cousin who is turning 100 next week. But with the variants out of control, it is not worth risking more lives to open the border, Opening the border would be extremely foolish at this time.
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