U.S. Poised To Reopen Land Border With Canada

After close to 19 months, the land border between Canada and the U.S. is going to reopen to fully vaccinated Canadians in early November.

U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins signaled that changes were coming in a statement issued yesterday (Oct. 12) evening, stating: “At long last, there is action by the United States to open the doors and welcome back our Canadian neighbours.”

At that time, fully vaccinated Canadians will be able to enter the U.S. at both land and ferry crossings for non-essential travel purposes.

Congressman Higgins observed that: “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.”

Indications are that U.S. officials are moving ahead with a plan to begin moving ahead with reopening its land borders with both Canada and Mexico, although a specific date as to when that reopening would occur hasn’t been announced yet.

Higgins said in a statement that: “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.”

The U.S. is still working out the details for the land border reopening; including what type of documentation will be needed to prove a traveller’s vaccination status; and on how travellers who have had mixed vaccine doses will be handled.

In this respect, Congressman Higgins noted that: “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.”