The Canada-U.S. border is open
But some restrictions remain.
On November 8, the land border between Canada and the United States, which had been closed for 20 months from March 2020, opened. Fully vaccinated travellers can cross in both directions.
However, the Canadian side requires showing a negative COVID-19 test done no earlier than 72 hours before travel. This applies to both American tourists and Canadian residents. The test costs $150-300 CAD per person, respectively, which is a lot of money for a family. But if a Canadian traveler spends less than 72 hours in the U.S., you can take the test before you leave and use it when you return home.
Canada's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Teresa Tam, has stated that the government is aware of the shortcomings of such requirements and is looking closely into the matter. The Canada Border Services Agency, for its part, insists the tests are necessary.
Perrin Beatty, a former federal minister and now director general of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, believes such measures are doomed to fail because they do little to keep people safe but cause them to spend money and create queues at the border.
New York Congressman Brian Higgins intends to hold a press conference with U.S. and Canadian mayors and urge Canada to drop the test requirements.
