Trudeau suggests US-Canada border likely to remain closed through June
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said negotiations continue between his government and the Trump administration about whether to keep the border closed to nonessential traffic. The mutual border agreement is set to expire May 21.
“We are a good week away from the expiry of the current phase of our border restrictions with the United States. Conversations are ongoing, are constructive, are productive. I won’t make any announcements today, but I can say that things are going well and we’re confident about being able to continue to keep Canadians safe,” Trudeau said Wednesday.
The agreement as it stands forbids any nonessential travel, although commercial traffic continues. Canadian business groups say the border has been functioning well, allowing for a substantial flow of essential and commercial goods to cross the border in both directions.
Trudeau on Tuesday said that even when some border restrictions are lifted, Canada may need some "stronger measures" at the border to safeguard public health. Canadian public health officials are looking at enhanced screening, including temperature checks and medical history evaluations for travelers coming in from the US, including those arriving at land borders.
“Different countries are facing different challenges and as we manage the spread of Covid-19 we want make sure that we’re not becoming vulnerable from travelers arriving from elsewhere, that’s why we made strong moves to secure, to close our borders including to American travelers at this time,” Trudeau said Wednesday.
Canada’s top doctor also said Tuesday that easing any border closures should proceed with "extreme caution."
“Of course, the United States being one country that still has cases and is still trying to manage outbreaks, they present a risk to Canada from that perspective,” Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer said Tuesday.
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