Approach to Blue Water Bridge at Front Street Mar. 18, 2020 (Image from traffic camera)Approach to Blue Water Bridge at Front Street Mar. 18, 2020 (Image from traffic camera)
Sarnia

Chamber president, mayor say restricting border right thing to do

Local officials say closing the Blue Water Bridge to non-essential travel is the right thing to do to help control the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump both made announcements Wednesday.

Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce President Shirley de Silva said the ban will impact recreational and tourism trips, hopefully for the short term, while trade will not be affected.

"We know that there is maybe 25 million trips to Canada from the U.S. and maybe 43 million trips to the U.S.," said de Silva. "But I think it's all surrounding recreational and tourism in the majority and I think that the economic impact will not be as severe as what we think it might be, and at the end it's for the right reason."

The prime minister also announced an economic relief package worth $82 billion Wednesday to help citizens and businesses weather the COVID-19 storm. Roughly $27-billion will be direct support, while $55-billion is in tax relief and/or deferrals.

de Silva said local businesses are obviously very concerned about the impact of the pandemic.

"I think that the news where there will be assistance to help those that are affected by the virus or that have to care for loved ones is certainly welcome news. There will be assistance also for businesses and I think that's welcome as well."

de Silva said the chamber will be disseminating as much information as it can. A COVID-19 pandemic preparedness toolkit will be circulated through social media channels and the chamber website.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said it's incredibly important that the trade between Canada and the United States carries on for the good of both economies, but he thinks the non-essential closure will be needed for longer than expected.

"I think it's going to be difficult to make it happen in such a short period of time," said Bradley. "I think these are extraordinary times, it's not like 9-11 where we knew it was probably going to be just a matter of days and that's what it was when the border was closed, this could go on for quite some time."

Mayor Bradley urged calm, saying he thinks Sarnia-Lambton, and Ontario are doing a good job dealing with the pandemic, and that we're all in this together and will get through it together. -With files from Josh Boyce

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