Echoing calls for interim border changes to help families and businesses

PLATTSBURGH | The recent extension of non-essential travel across the northern border came to the dismay of many local travelers and representatives. Canadian officials confirmed on Sept. 16 that existing restrictions on cross-border travel are being extended until Oct. 21. While the international restrictions won't disrupt commercial shipping activities, it limits personal travel to include only essential categories, such as emergency personnel. The repeated 30-day extensions have continued for months amid the current health crisis and local leaders were hoping the latest extension would provide clearer guidance or added exceptions, such as for emergency family situations, business-development visits, and for property owners. "As with the last few extensions, we wholly expected this latest actions so it is not a surprise," North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said following the Sept. 16 announcement. "But it's time to once again cue the crickets in both federal governments as they continue to ignore reasonable calls for a reopening plan with metrics and a decision-making process, as well as a call to at least study and consider a number of modest interim measures that have been suggested, such as expanded family connections, the visitation of property within 50 or 100 miles of the border and some added forms of business-released travel such as site visits." Small border communities especially have been seriously impacted by the extensions and Douglas said continuing the policy with a lack of dialogue and planning is "a case of enormous public-policy malpractice." He vowed to remain actively engaged with the Northern Border Caucus in Congress, which is co-chaired by U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik, to renew calls for interim measures to be put in place between now and Oct. 21. Stefanik said she remains "committed to working on a bipartisan basis with officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Canadian government to establish a safe, phased-in reopening of our Northern border." After hearing from local residents, business owners, and local leaders, Stefanik said the North Country economy remains deeply affected by the federal measures and that both nations "must come together and consider steps to safely re-open our border and ease the burden for the communities they support." She said she will continue to advocate for "a viable solution to end these 30-day extensions." Assemblyman Billy Jones said the latest extension "is disappointing news for the North Country." "With infection rates remaining low across our region, this decision seems harsh to all who have worked so hard to stop the spread of COVID-19. Businesses across my district are hurting because of the lack of Canadian clientele, and residents on both sides of the border continue to miss their loved ones," he said. "It is unfair that the North Country is punished for higher infection rates in other parts of the United States and I will continue to call on our federal partners to loosen restrictions for safe border crossings."

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Echoing calls for interim border changes to help families and businesses

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