Pointing to Action by U.S. & Canada Health Agencies, Congressman Higgins Calls for COVID Restrictions at Northern Border to End
Buffalo, New York area Congressman Brian Higgins
Two years ago, the border between the United States and Canada closed with devastating consequences for both countries economically and emotionally. Incredible progress has been made in the fight against COVID and it’s time to remove the remaining disjointed and prohibitive restrictions at the U.S and Canadian borders.” – U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins, representing a district that includes Buffalo and Niagara Falls, New York
A News Release from the Buffalo, New York Office of Democratic Congressman Brian Higgins
Posted March 2nd, 2022 on Niagara At Large
Buffalo, New York – Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26), who serves as co-chair of the Northern Border Caucus and the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group, says the U.S. and Canada should follow guidance implemented by its health agencies and lift remaining pandemic-related border restrictions.
The Peace Bridge crossing between Niagara, Ontario and Buffalo, New York – hardly taking much traffic at all for the past two years.
In remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives, Higgins said it part, “Increased vaccination rates in the United States, Canada and around the world show that communities who have done the right thing and followed the science can return to a watchful sense of normalcy.
Today I am calling on the United States and Canadian governments to follow the science-based directives of their health agencies and to fully reopen the Canadian border to travelers without COVID restrictions.”
The U.S. – Canada border first closed to non-essential travel in March of 2020 due to the pandemic. The Canadian border reopened on August 9, 2021 and the U.S. reopened its border on November 8, 2021, each with different restrictions.
In recent days, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance indicating, based on the measurement of COVID hospitalization and infection rates, it is safe for Americans in most communities, if they choose, to go without wearing a mask.
A significant cut in border crossings over the Rainbow Bridge, form the U.S. to Niagara Falls, Ontario has hit a tourist industry supporting about 40,0000 jobs very hard
In Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Health lifted capacity limits for indoor settings and proof of vaccination requirements for all settings effective March 1, 2022.
As of February 28, 2022, over 81% of Canadians and more than 65% of Americans are fully vaccinated, which has led to lower community spread, fewer hospitalizations and the lifting of COVID-related restrictions in U.S. states and Canadian providences. Yet, both the U.S. and Canada are requiring proof of vaccination to cross the border, and the Canadian government is continuing to also require a negative test.
Prior to the pandemic over 10.5 million people crossed into the U.S. in passenger vehicles through Buffalo Niagara Falls border crossings annually, many spending money at restaurants, hotels, sporting and cultural destinations locally.
Higgins points out that the restrictions are continuing to discourage the free-flow of travel which benefits the two nations, “Two years ago, the border between the United States and Canada closed with devastating consequences for both countries economically and emotionally. Incredible progress has been made in the fight against COVID and it’s time to remove the remaining disjointed and prohibitive restrictions at the U.S and Canadian borders.”
To hear and watch Buffalo area Congressman Brian Higgins speak on this matter in Congress, click on the screen immediately below –
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