BORDER LIMITS STAY

Local businesses trying to stay optimistic

While Friday's announcement that the Canada-u.s. border will remain closed to all but essential travel until July 21 was a letdown for many, the head of the region's Chamber of Commerce is trying to stay positive.

“I have to say I'm disappointed because there was anticipation that there would be some restrictions that would be eased starting in early July and the business community was hoping that some more people would be allowed to travel and cross the border,” said Rakesh Naidu, president and CEO of the Windsor-essex Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair tweeted the news Friday but also said that the government will provide details on Monday about plans to let fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents enter the country.

The measures at the border have been in place since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

“We're hoping that on Monday that there is some good news,” said Naidu.

“From what we're hearing the business community on the other side is equally eager to get the border opened up and they are talking with their elected officials and getting support for a faster reopening on that side. Hopefully, both sides can agree to terms and ease the restrictions and now that we have a greater number of people vaccinated on both sides it should be easier now.”

Naidu said the first priority is for business workers not currently deemed essential to be allowed to cross the border for commercial reasons.

Local businesses that rely on American clientele will likely have to wait longer.

“The local businesses definitely benefit when there are a higher number of people crossing the border, and certainly the tourism industry benefits from that, and I understand that may take some time,” Naidu said.

Around the same time Blair was tweeting his news, Windsor West NDP MP Brian Masse was asking a question during question period.

“Land border communities and families have been reeling for more than a year as parents, brothers, sisters, loved ones and even children have been torn apart by restrictions,” Masse said.

“We all want to keep everyone safe. The NDP proposed an inclusive

Hopefully, both sides can agree to terms and ... now that we have a greater number of people vaccinated on both sides it should be easier ...

safe border task force to find solutions and give stakeholders and the public confidence. What is it going to take before the Liberals offer a plan to help Canadians through this ordeal?”

Blair's parliamentary assistant, Quebec MP Joel Lightbound, said his government “put in place significant reciprocal restrictions on our border, among others, with the United States in a public health objective and always guided by science and by a public health imperative to properly protect Canada.

“As far as our border services officers are concerned, we make sure that they have the most upto-date information, the most relevant also to render decisions quickly for citizens who have to cross the border for essential reasons,” Lightbound said.

“We will continue to observe and assess the situation as it continues to evolve with this imperative to protect Canadians against COVID-19.”

Interviewed later, Masse said his office is being flooded with complaints about the ongoing closure.

“We're getting inundated,” Masse said.

“It's not only the volume of emails, it's also the content that can be very disturbing and difficult for us to even read through.”