Stefanik reaches out to Canadian premiers for reopening support

PLATTSBURGH | As part of a multi-faceted strategy for outreach and advocacy, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik has sent letters to each Canadian provincial and territorial premier calling for their partnership in restoring U.S.-Canadian border travel. The July 7 move came just two days after the Canadian government eased quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated Canadians though the border remains closed to non-essential land travel. With the current restrictions set to expire July 21, a growing pool of North Country leaders and advocates are calling for an end to the repeated 30-day extensions that have kept families, businesses and property owners separated across the closely tied international border. Stefanik has introduced several national legislative measures in an effort to cease the extensions and is leading the push for unilateral U.S. reopening access for Canadians if bilateral negotiations remain stalled. "For over a month I have urged the Biden Administration to begin unilaterally reopening the northern border to Canadians seeking to travel to the U.S., as this would have an immediate impact on families and businesses along the border." Stefanik said July 7 following the latest letter campaign. "With Canada's move to ease restrictions on vaccinated Canadians, I am hoping they will follow the science and extend the same treatment to the many Americans who've been waiting for over a year to visit their homes or loved ones in Canada. Restoring the special U.S. – Canadian partnership will require the collective resolve of leaders on both sides of the border, and I am asking Canada's Premiers to join me in this effort." In her letters, Stefanik wrote in part: "As the conditions have significantly improved in both countries and an increasing number of residents have been vaccinated, the lack of meaningful progress towards reopening has been devastating to communities on both sides of our border. Quite simply – the continual month-long extensions without clear signs of coordination or progress are straining the U.S. – Canada partnership." The letters went on to read: "Since the Canadian government recently announced the first – albeit very modest – step towards removing travel restrictions by ending the 14-day quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents that test negative for COVID-19 prior to and upon arrival, I believe there is a clear opportunity for long-awaited progress. I ask for your support and assistance in providing parity to American citizens seeking to enter Canada who meet the same requirements imposed on Canadians returning from travel. This is a sensible step forward that will bring immediate relief to border communities as we continue our work towards fully restoring cross-border travel." The North Country Chamber of Commerce, which one day earlier hosted a visit by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer to also push for unilateral U.S. action if needed, applauded Stefanik's letters knowing each of the Canadian premiers meet weekly with the Canadian Prime Minister "and that the evolving position of the provinces with regard to the border is bound to be a factor in achieving further steps by the Canadian Government," said Chamber President Garry Douglas. "This sparked the Congresswoman's letters to each one of them, while we have also begun to seek and engage in direct virtual meetings with provincial leaders to make the case for forward movement. We have done one with Quebec and will be doing a cabinet-level conversation with Ontario in the coming days." Douglas said "This is all part of using every possible avenue to encourage progress and is in concert with the advocacy by Senator Schumer and others aimed at both countries. We will continue to advocate through multiple channels in multiple ways, and we thank Congresswoman Stefanik for her continued strong engagement as part of this broad and multi-faceted approach."

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Stefanik reaches out to Canadian premiers for reopening support

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