BUFFALO, NY (WIVB) – Congressman Brian Higgins, a long-time supporter of reopening the US-Canada border to non-essential travel, is not happy with the US decision to keep the door closed yet longer than our Canadian neighbors.
It was announced Wednesday morning that although Canada will allow Americans to travel there for non-essential travel starting August 9, the United States will still not allow non-essential travel from Canada until the 21st. August.
MORE | Read the notice here.
Higgins, who co-leads the Northern Border Caucus and the Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group, said, “It is time for the United States to align its northern border policy with its science.”
MORE | Canada to allow vaccinated U.S. citizens to enter the country on August 9
He issued a statement in response to the ruling, saying the longer shutdown “was hurting economic recovery and families across America’s northern border.”
Read the full statement here:
“For months now, people and businesses along the border have been straining month after month in hopes of the border reopening. Today’s decision by the Biden administration hurts economic recovery and harms families across the northern US border; it is completely unnecessary.
“While the United States does nothing, loved ones remain separate and communities whose economies rely on cross-border trade continue to suffer economically. The continuation of this shutdown is illogical given the success of vaccines and counterproductive putting the United States at a disadvantage given Canada’s decision to re-welcome vaccinated Americans as of August 9.e. “
Representative Brian Higgins
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the US move jeopardized the takeover of “thousands of businesses, families and communities in upstate New York.” .
“As Canada prepares to open the border further next month, the United States is failing to reciprocate, jeopardizing an already tenuous recovery for thousands of businesses, families and communities in the upstate from New York. It is essential for the United States to level the playing field and create a uniform system, based on science and data, to safely – and finally– reopen the border for people who have been vaccinated, and I will do everything in my power to make this happen as quickly as possible. ”
US Senate Leader Marojity Chuck Schumer
Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award and Emmy nominated digital producer who has been on the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on twitter.
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