With proof of vaccination status Canadians will now be able to travel to and from the United States beginning November 1st.
The reopening of the border comes as good news to Rep. Brian Higgins (D-Buffalo) who for months has questioned the continued closure. He said the application of a little political pressure on the Biden Administration eventually won the day.
“I think, again this border should have been open months ago,” Higgins said. “There was no reason not to. And, you know, we have the vaccine and that was an inflection point in this pandemic and it provides very strong immunity, as I said from giving or getting COVID and when the Canadian border opened, the US border should have opened.”
The Canadian border reopened for vaccinated Americans in early-August but those traveling to Canada have to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test from the previous 72 hours, a process he said should not be necessary for Canadians traveling here.
Every aspect of economies across Western New York are reliant in part on Canadian dollars and Higgins says they have felt the financial pinch over the last 19 months of the border being closed.
“In 2019 21 million Canadians visited the United States and spent almost $21 billion US travel estimates that translate into $440 million each month,” he said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday echoed Higgins by saying the border reopening is good news for communities in Western New York and along the states northern border.
More information on the border reopening will be provided by the United States Customs and Border Patrol.
