Canada, US extend border restrictions for another 30 days

TORONTO (AP):

CANADIAN PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday the United States (US) and Canada have agreed to keep their border closed to non-essential travel for another 30 days and that will be undoubtedly longer before the restriction is removed.

Trudeau said it will keep people on both sides of the border safe amid the pandemic.

“The agreement is the same terms. It’s just extended for another 30 days. It will ensure we continue to get essential goods and services back and forth across the border,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau said in French the restrictions will remain in place for “many, many weeks to come,” and then said in English it will “undoubtedly” be many weeks.

US President Donald Trump said this past Wednesday that the US-Canada border will be among the first borders to open and that the US and Canada are doing well in handling the pandemic. The US has more confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 than any country in the world.

The US and Canada agreed last month to limit border crossings to essential travel amid the pandemic, but that agreement was due to expire this coming week. Nearly 200,000 people cross that border daily in normal times.

Many of Canada’s cases have come from those returning from the US, and there is a concern that Trudeau might reopen the border again amid pressure from Trump.

“We will continue to take the measures necessary to keep Canadians safe, while ensuring the continued flow of our essential supply chains on which so many Canadians depend,” Trudeau said.

Essential cross-border workers like healthcare professionals, airline crews and truck drivers will still be permitted to cross. Truck drivers are critical as they supply grocery stores and medical goods in both directions. Much of Canada’s food supply comes from or via the US.

Canadians who live in the US for part of the year and are returning to Canada are among those who are also exempted from the current travel ban.

Canada sends 75 per cent of its exports to the US and about 18 per cent of American exports go to Canada. The US-Canada border is the world’s longest between two nations.

Trudeau said the border restrictions have helped.