USA/CANADA. The Open the U.S.-CAN Border campaign held a virtual press conference today, where senior politicians and border business representatives demanded the removal of the requirement for COVID-19 PCR tests for travellers crossing the border. It was staged on the same date as the border officially reopened.
Four border city mayors – three Canadian and one American – along with New York District 26 Congressman Brian Higgins, and voices speaking on behalf of border businesses, underlined the strong arguments for the removal of the tests.
“This unscientific approach must end given that random testing over the past few months has demonstrated there is no risk to ending the pre-testing” – The Open the U.S.-CAN Border campaign
The Open the U.S.-CAN Border campaign – a growing coalition of associations dedicated to preserving and maintaining the border economic and social way of life, which they say is vital to border communities – described the tests as “unfair, expensive and not justified by science”. It added that the border closure, which was originally enacted 20 months ago, has meant that border communities, border residents and border businesses “have paid the heaviest price”.
This view was echoed by the border community leaders, with the speakers united in the message that the closure of the land border and the expensive tests have been, and remain, a question of economic equity, while also acting as a continued barrier to recovery.
Congressman Higgins said: “For the last 19 months all of us have been admonished to follow the science. Science tells us that the vaccine is highly effective in keeping people from getting and giving COVID.
“Requiring a test is a redundant and costly requirement for those fully vaccinated and it presents an unnecessary obstacle to returning a pre-pandemic flow of people across the border which benefits the economies of both nations.”
Mayor Jim Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ontario), Mayor Robert Restaino (Niagara Falls, New York), Mayor Michael Bradley (Sarnia, Ontario) and Mayor Drew Dilkens (Windsor, Ontario) all expressed similarly critical views.
During the conference, Hotel Association of Canada President & CEO Susie Grynol said: “I hear it every day from my members: this PCR test is blocking travel. Whether you are trying to visit family, or planning your Christmas holiday, or travelling for business, or a global account looking to book an international event, many are taking a pass on Canada because the process is too complicated and expensive.”
Laying down its position, a statement for The Open the U.S.-CAN border campaign said: “Fully vaccinated is fully vaccinated. Forcing fully vaccinated Americans to get tested before crossing the border makes no scientific sense. Hockey stadiums are now open at 100% capacity but a fully vaccinated family of four faces an US$800 testing bill just to drive over the border in their own car.
“This unscientific approach must end given that random testing over the past few months has demonstrated there is no risk to ending the pre-testing.”
