Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

Manage risks, don't close border again: task force

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Oct, 2021 02:22 PM
  • Manage risks, don't close border again: task force

WASHINGTON - A new report is urging Canada and the United States to keep their shared border open when the next pandemic hits, rather than closing it entirely to non-essential travel.

The task force, assembled by the D.C.-based Wilson Center, says a risk-management approach to the border would have been less disruptive and damaging than the "zero-risk" approach that was adopted.

The group includes former public safety minister Anne McLellan and ex-Quebec premier Jean Charest, as well as former Washington state governor Christine Gregoire and James Douglas, the former governor of Vermont.

The group's yearlong investigation also found that the border closure was far less integrated between the two countries than was originally believed.

Charest says a number of people living on both sides of the border suffered throughout the closure, which took effect in March 2020, and that the cost was ultimately too high.

And he says now is the time to get a mutual strategy in place, since the prospect of another pandemic is not a question of if, but of when.

The travel rules prohibited non-essential leisure travel over the land border without restricting trade shipments and essential workers. Canada began easing restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers in August, while a new U.S. requirement that travellers be fully vaccinated will take effect Nov. 8.

The U.S. will continue to require that air travellers produce evidence of a recent negative COVID-19 test, but the office of New York congressman Brian Higgins says that requirement won't apply to those entering the country by land.

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed for us again today that there will not be a testing requirement for vaccinated travellers to cross the land border," Higgins' office said in a statement.

Higgins has already called on Canada's federal government to abandon its requirement that travellers submit the results of a costly PCR test before arriving at a land-border crossing.

He says the $200 test remains a significant deterrent to travel and a drag on the economic recovery in border communities.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, acknowledged Friday that testing is "very much a live issue" both inside the federal government, as well as in discussions with provinces and territories.

But as of now, she said the testing requirement remains an important safety measure, even with strong vaccination rates in Canada, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding the Delta variant and lingering questions about how long vaccines remain effective.

"No layer of protection is ever 100 per cent perfect, we know that," Tam said.

"With all these considerations, I think having that additional layer of protection (from testing) is important at this time, but we will review it."

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Premier's office fostered toxic workplace: lawsuit

Premier's office fostered toxic workplace: lawsuit
A former senior political staffer in the Alberta government alleges in a lawsuit that the premier’s office fostered a “poisoned work environment” and repeatedly failed to address her complaint of sexual harassment about another employee.

Premier's office fostered toxic workplace: lawsuit

North Korean refugees will be screened: Canada

North Korean refugees will be screened: Canada
The Immigration Department says it will also check that refugees fleeing Kim Jong Un's authoritarian regime do not have a criminal background. Under the new program, Canadian citizens will for the first time be able to privately sponsor North Koreans so they can settle in Canada.

North Korean refugees will be screened: Canada

609 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

609 COVID19 cases for Wednesday
There are currently 4,748 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 196,342 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 422 individuals are currently in hospital and 157 are in intensive care. 

609 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

B.C. introduces new health service for kids, youth

B.C. introduces new health service for kids, youth
Mitzi Dean, B.C.'s minister of children and family development, says the province's current system is a patchwork of programs where many children and youth must wait for a diagnosis before receiving supports.    

B.C. introduces new health service for kids, youth

West Fraser earns US$460M as sales nearly double

West Fraser earns US$460M as sales nearly double
The Vancouver-based lumber, oriented strand board and paper manufacturer says it earned US$460 million or US$4.20 per diluted share for the three months ended Sept. 30.

West Fraser earns US$460M as sales nearly double

Police investigate hateful graffiti at Sikh Gurdwara

Police investigate hateful graffiti at Sikh Gurdwara
Sometime between 9 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, and 7 a.m., the next morning, two hateful phrases were painted on roads outside the temple with arrows pointing towards the building. The Gurdwara is located at 739 81 St S.W., and the two painted phrases were found along 81 Street and Old Banff Coach Road S.W.

Police investigate hateful graffiti at Sikh Gurdwara