More Details On Date of Reopening And Rules For Crossing Coming Later Today. Stay Tuned.
A Statement from the Office of Buffalo, New York Congressman Brian Higgins
Posted October 13th, 2021 on Niagara At Large
We will soon be back to scenes like this again at border crossings like the Peace Bridge connecting Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York
“At long last (19 months after the border crossings were closed to so-called “non-essential” travellers), there is action by the United States to open the doors and welcome back our Canadian neighbors.
“A robust cross-border exchange between the United States and Canada is fundamental to our binational relationship and mutually beneficial to our nations’ citizens, businesses and economies. Strong vaccination rates in Canada made the continued border shutdown absurd and unjustifiable.
“For months now we’ve heard from businesses that are suffering and families distraught over the separation imposed by the continued border shutdown. The sigh of relief coming from Northern Border communities following this announcement is so loud it can practically be heard on either end of the Peace Bridge.
“Border communities await further details from the administration with great expectation, and I will continue to advocate for a more fully and freely open border to both governments, sooner rather than later.”
Changes to allow fully vaccinated Canadians into the United States through Land Ports of Entry will begin in November. Proof of vaccination will be required. Further details will be announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in coordination with U.S. health agencies.
Congressman Higgins, who serves as Co-Chair of both the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group and the Northern Border Caucus, has spent months speaking out about the devastating human and economic impact of the border shutdown and urging the White House to provide guidance that allows for a reopening of the border.
The border between the United States and Canada first closed to non-essential travel due to the pandemic in March of 2020. After 17 months of restrictions, Canada reopened its border to vaccinated Americans on August 9, 2021. However, the U.S. continued its order restricting all Canadians, regardless of vaccination status, from crossing through Land Ports of Entry through October 21, 2021.
A Brief Footnote from Niagara At Large – U.S. Congressman Higgins is scheduled to hold a media conference at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo this morning, and will outline further details. We will post them. Stay Tuned.
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