Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hinted today that Canada is in no rush to ease restrictions at the U.S. border to allow for non-essential travel.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hinted today that Canada is in no rush to ease travel restrictions at the U.S. border to allow for non-essential travel as the clock ticks down on the current agreement.
Both countries reached an agreement in March to temporarily close the border to non-essential travel — meaning no recreational visits — while keeping it open to commercial traffic and essential workers who cross for work. It was extended in April by 30 days and is set to expire on May 21.
Trudeau was asked repeatedly during his daily news briefing today whether the deal will be extended once again.
“We’re going to be very, very careful about reopening any international travel, including in the United States, before we feel that it is time,” he said.
“We’re going to be very very careful about reopening any international travel, including the United States, before we feel that it is time,” said PM @JustinTrudeau pic.twitter.com/mKoFxr0ucB
“Preventing transmission from outside of Canada into Canada, once we have controlled the spread within Canada, will be an essential part of ensuring that we don’t fall back into a second wave that could be as serious as this wave we’re going through, or even more so.”
Trudeau said the reopening of economic activity needs to happen gradually.
“We all are focused right now on ensuring a flattening of the curve, decreasing of the cases of COVID-19, so that we can restart certain sectors of the economy,” he said.
“Our priority needs to be keeping Canadians safe, and that is the spirit in which we have engaged in constant and constructive dialogue with the Americans to talk about shared interests, including the border. And I have no doubt we will have more to say in the coming days on how we continue to move forward in a way that keeps Canadians safe.”