Canada easing restrictions at U.S. border

Fully vaxxed Americans can enter country Aug. 9; United States is not currently planning to reciprocate

WASHINGTON — Fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents will be allowed into Canada as of Aug. 9, joined by the rest of the world Sept. 7, federal officials announced Monday as the country prepares to lower border barriers that were erected to limit the spread of COVID-19.

However, the United States is not currently planning to reciprocate by easing travel restrictions on would-be Canadian visitors hoping to go south of the border.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said he briefed Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas about the steps Canada intended to take, but got no indication that the U.S. would be following suit before the existing restrictions are set for renewal on Wednesday.

“He indicated to me at this time they have not yet made a decision; they anticipate their measures would likely be (extended) on July 21,” Blair told a news conference announcing the changes.

“They are obviously considering additional measures and data, but at the present time they have not indicated any plan to make any changes in the current border restrictions that are in place.”

That imbalance is sure to aggravate domestic political tensions around the border issue in the U.S., where a growing chorus of congressional lawmakers have been pressing President Joe Biden and his officials to embrace their vaccination success to date and ease international travel restrictions.

Rep. Brian Higgins, the New York member of Congress who has spearheaded the American campaign, said as much in a statement Monday as he cheered the Canadian measures.

“It is extremely frustrating that the U.S. government has failed to reciprocate current family exemptions already allowed by the Canadian government and failed to show a lack of urgency to make any progress on this side of the border toward lifting restrictions,” Higgins said.

“The U.S. has neglected to give reopening the northern border the serious attention it deserves, and there is no excuse.

Failure to co-ordinate this announcement in a binational way will only lead to confusion among travellers. We will continue to push for action by the U.S. government to welcome our Canadian neighbours back.”

All travellers to Canada will still be required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result and proof of vaccination prior to arrival by way of the ArriveCAN smartphone app or web portal.

Canada Border Services Agency officials will also be subjecting random travellers to a mandatory molecular test upon arrival.