Webinar focuses on border reopening efforts

PLATTSBURGH | While local leaders, businesses, and residents on both sides of the northern border hope for interim exceptions to the continued closed-border travel, the U.S.-Canadian border will likely remain closed until at least early fall. Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest said many factors will contribute to the eventual reopening, including higher mass vaccination rates and likely a mechanism to verify traveler vaccination or proof of recent negative COVID-19 tests, but that "substantive" progress likely won't happen until this fall. That insight came April 28 during an international webinar focused on current efforts to plan for the eventual reopening as hundreds of residents and business owners tuned in to hear more about when they can resume family visits, business and travel. The seminar was held as a joint collaborative effort between the North Country Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Quebec Chambers of Commerce-the FCCQ- featuring discussions with Charest and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus. The U.S.-Canadian border has remained closed for more than a year as both nations work to combat the pandemic and now boost vaccination rates, but the continued incremental extensions of the closure have left families and businesses on both sides in limbo wondering how and when a reopening will happen. North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas compared the closure to a physical wall between nations, affecting families, businesses and properties and causing fundamental harm to the historic and interwoven special relations between the nations. "Who would have thought that would ever happen," Douglas said as he called for interim exceptions and substantive planning in the coming weeks, saying international leaders need to "find a way forward and not just talk about the situation." "The whole wall isn't going to come down tomorrow, but maybe we can open a few gateways" to start the reopening process, he said. Calling the bi-national relationship "so profound", Charest said "The border isn't a trivial issue for us, it's part of our day-to-day lives….the challenge and issue for us is how do we make this work?" He too said the key to reopening is increasing vaccination rates and that leaders need to commit to a plan to allow both nations, residents and businesses alike to prepare in the meantime. "We just don't know right now and that's the hardest part." U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik has steadily advocated for increased national guidance on the issue and has implored President Joe Biden to further discussions and interim planning. Though she acknowledged both nations have recognized the importance of commercial travel and cross-border supply chains and trade, she said the economic toll and commercial growth impacts continue to be deeply felt, as well as the day-to-day hardships facing families and residents with ties between nations. She too called for more transparency in the reopening process and the disclosure of advancing plans for the eventual reopening. This continued uncertainty that comes from the monthly extension without substantive signs of progress has caused significant hardships for my constituent," Stefanik said. "I have urged the Biden Administration to make bilateral collaboration an immediate priority and solidify a truly metrics-based bilateral plan to safely reopen the U.S.-Canadian border. Providing our communities and businesses and understanding with what they can expect in the coming months and the assurance both sides are working to restore travel as soon as possible."

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Webinar focuses on border reopening efforts

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