Border mayors want say on reopenings
Challenges faced in U.S. among reasons to keep border closed, mayors say
Mayors of Ontario’s border municipalities, including Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Niagara-onthe-Lake, have sent a joint letter to the prime minister and deputy prime minister about plans for the Canada-U.S. border during the pandemic.
Written by Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano, and at the direction of border community mayors, such as Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop and Niagara-on-the-Lake Lord Mayor Betty Disero, the letter requests municipalities neighbouring the United States be consulted about border decisions. The letter, dated July 6, is cc’d to Ontario mayors along the border, as well as MPs, MPPs and Premier Doug Ford.
“I can confirm that my colleagues and I agree that the Canada/U.S. border should remain closed (to all but essential travel) until such time that the COVID-19 risk of travel between the two countries is minimal,” said the letter. “However, we recognize that there will be ongoing discussions between Canada and the United States about when the border should be opened, how it should be opened and what metrics should be considered in coming to those decisions. Considering that our communities will be most immediately affected and, arguably, at the highest risk of COVID-19 exposure, we would appreciate the opportunity to have a discussion with your government in order that we may have a better understanding of your government’s decision-making process and you may have the benefit of our input prior to any decision about the border’s reopening.”
Provenzano said he appreciated the opportunity to speak with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in early April about these same matters and “I would be glad to arrange and host a video conference with her and the mayors identified herein at her convenience.”
In an interview, Diodati said until the U.S. gets its “house in order” when it comes to better controlling the spread of COVID-19, “don’t invite people through your front door.”
“They’re having challenges and we support them in their dealing with their COVID challenges. We know it’s not easy,” he said.
“Until they get this sorted out and until they get a better handle on it, it’s best that we leave the discussion of opening the border to a later date, and we want the federal government to involve us because we are their eyes, their ears and their front line on this issue. It would be a good move strategically on the prime minister’s part to involve us in any discussions around the border.”
Redekop said border communities “understand the dynamic” of having international crossings, and “an appreciation of the significance of the movement of people across that border.”
“We feel that it’s very important that the federal government take into account what our concerns are relative to their decisions regarding the border,” he said.
Disero said consultations would also allow border communities to know in advance what, if any, protections would need to be in place if border restrictions are eased.
“When the federal government makes a decision, or the province makes a decision that will impact a community, what happens is emotions start to rise, people start acting or reacting in a way that may not be thought through in terms of all the implications and you get knee-jerk reactions, rather than a plan.”
She said while now is not the time to reopen the border to non-essential travel, tourism operators are “certainly feeling the results of not having Americans here.”
“Our big economic driver is tourism … but it’s a matter of a health issue at this point. Both sides of the border have to feel comfortable enough that both sides of the border share the same protections and reality in terms of what’s happening with respect to the virus.”