Quebec shutdown not expected to impact essential cross-border traffic

PLATTSBURGH | While Quebec now faces a province-wide shutdown and curfew through January, local officials said essential cross-border traffic is not expected to be impacted. "We have been in active communication with the Quebec government in recent days and are assured that there will be no interference with essential personnel commuting across the border," North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said Jan. 6. "This happily includes the hundreds of Quebec doctors, nurses and health care professionals who are a vital part of the North Country's health care system." The shutdown in Quebec remains in effect until Feb. 8 as Quebec Premier Francois Legault recently detailed the tightened efforts that mirror the province's first shutdown in 2020, requiring all non-essential businesses to close and imposing a curfew daily from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. during which time people are only to be on the streets for work or essential purposes. "We also welcome a provision in the Quebec guidelines that will open the door for manufacturers there to carry on 'priority' work," Douglas said as the chamber continues to work with area manufacturers potentially impacted by the decision. "Many of our North Country manufacturers and other businesses depend on cross border supply chains, so hopefully interruptions of these connections can be avoided in most cases. We know that several of our Quebec based companies are working to clarify what activities can be regarded as priorities, and we have been told by the government that they do not want to interrupt manufacturing supply chains," Douglas said. "We also have area businesses dependent on the Port of Montreal, as well as rail and trucking across the border, and we are told these shipping and transportation activities will continue." Douglas said the Quebec shutdown, which follows a shutdown in Ontario, "does not bode well for the removal of border crossing restrictions anytime soon, possibly pushing our hopes for some relief off longer. It is certainly something we will continue to stay on top of in both Washington and Ottawa."

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Quebec shutdown not expected to impact essential cross-border traffic

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