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One Year After Closing, US-Canada Border Remains Closed

Craig McCulloch

   VANCOUVER - March 21st will marka full yearthattheCanada-U. S.borderhas
   beenclosed to all but essential trafficduring the COVID-19 pandemic.

   The Canada-U.S.border is the largest undefended boundary in the world
   at 8,891 kilometers. There are 117 legal points of entrythathave been
   closed to tourist and personal,or "nonessential" travel,for almost a
   year, resulting in an80%dropin border traffic.

   For generations,travelers from both countrieshave easily crossedthe
   borderfor vacations, shopping trips and other excursions. Thatall
   stopped last Marchwith the spread of the coronavirus. The only
   exceptions are for immediate family, those in long-termrelationships or
   for compassionate purposes.

   Those crossing for essential work or to transport commercial goods
   arealsoexempt.

   Suzanne Smith is inauniqueposition. She is the Canadian owner of "Betty
   Be Good," two dress shopslocatedjust across the border
   inWashingtonState. Her stores employ sevenAmericansfull time.She
   liveson the Canadian sidein suburban Vancouver,a mere two blocks from
   the border.Since the closure, her business has decreased40%.
   As an essential worker, she can cross the border and does so once or
   twice a week. However, she can only go directly to her two stores
   andliterally nowhereelse.Not even to afavoriteeateryor to see her
   extended Americanfamily, unlessthey visit one of her stores.

   "It'sreally difficultwhen you straddle two sides of a border with your
   life. You have restaurants that you enjoy. You have small businesses
   that you have supported over time.Things that become part of your life.
   And, you know, I have family there,as well. A lot of people are in that
   boat where they can't see their family. I'm not unique in that I can't
   see my family,either,unless they come to work," Smith said.

   On February 22, the Canadian governmentincreasedthe requirements for
   Canadians,orpermanentresidents,whoare nonessentialtravelersreturning
   home by land. Now, those crossing the bordermustshow a negative
   COVID-19 test within the previous 72 hours orproof they had the
   coronavirus in the previous14to90days,therefore having at least
   temporaryantibodyimmunity. Travelers will then have to quarantine
   for14days.

   Laurie Trautman,director of the Border Policy Research Institute at
   Western Washington University in Bellingham, is hoping for a phasedand
   safereopeningof the border.

   "So,what I would like to see istesting out a pilot project.We'vedone
   that a lot in our region, and proving that it is possible for,let'ssay,
   me as a traveler tosubmitmy vaccine status to a border officer before I
   arrived there and in a seamless electronic manner. And that that should
   besufficient enoughfor me to cross the border,"Trautman said.

   The Canadian government has also halted the 2021 Alaska cruise ship
   season.

   The office of the U.S.Trade Representative estimates that$718.4
   billioninall types of trade crossed the U.S.-Canada borderbefore the
   pandemicin 2019.

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