The Ambassador Bridge . May 24, 2018. (Photo by Paul Pedro)The Ambassador Bridge . May 24, 2018. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
Windsor

Still too early to loosen border restrictions, says local MP

Nearly a year after the Canada-U.S. border was partially-closed, Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk said he believes it's still too soon to start talking about its possible reopening.

It's been one year since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he and then U.S. President Donald Trump reached an agreement to temporarily close the border to all non-essential travel as a result of the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

The partial-closure officially went into effect at midnight on March 21, 2020, and has since been extended on a month-to-month basis.

Of the many challenges that the pandemic has created over the past year, Kusmierczyk said the impacts of the border closure are ones that have been magnified in a border city such as Windsor.

"We felt it more acutely, I feel, than a lot of communities, if not most communities across Canada. Part of that relates to the fact that we are a border community. The fact that the borders have been closed for a year has had a real negative impact on our community," he said. "You hear it, for example, from a lot of the local businesses. Our manufacturing sector, about 80 per cent of what they produce is exported to the U.S. The border has presented challenges to a lot of local manufacturers and workers needing to go back and forth."

There have been some strong calls to reopen the border or at least relax the measures currently in place. New York Congressman Brian Higgins, who represents several border-communities in the state including Niagara Falls and Buffalo, has been pushing for a bilateral plan to safely restore travel between the two countries.

In a letter address to President Joe Biden in January, Higgins urged his administration to develop a plan to increase the number of essential traveller exceptions.

"As we approach one year of restricted travel, we also must recognize the significant impact these restrictions have had on individuals, families, businesses, and communities on both sides of the border," read the letter.

Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk. Courtesy Irek Kusmierczyk/Twitter. Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk. Courtesy Irek Kusmierczyk/Twitter.

Kusmierczyk said there's no denying the impact of the border closure has been tough, but with new variants of COVID-19 and the potential of a third wave, he said he thinks it's simply too early to start thinking about reopening.

"At this moment, I think it's too early. I think it's premature to be talking about opening up the borders anytime soon," he said.

According to Kusmierczyk, although some might not agree with it, many residents recognize the importance of keeping the border closed until its safer to do so.

"Speaking to constituents, almost unanimously you see support for strong border measures," he said. "Because we know they have kept our community safe."

During a press conference on Monday, Trudeau said discussions are ongoing with American officials about loosening restrictions

"I think we're all going to wait until such a time that the health situation allows us to loosen border restrictions internationally," said Trudeau. "That will be eventually, but not for today."

Kusmierczyk said he's got no way to knowing or estimating when the borders could reopen. However, he said the decision would be based on what's best for residents.

He added that it's his understanding that both sides would have to agree on the measures in place.

"I can reassure our residents that this decision is going to be made based on the best available medical advice and health advice from our public health agencies," he explained. "We're always going to be guided by first and foremost the health and safety of Canadians and health and safety of border communities like ours."

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair announced on Thursday that non-essential travel restrictions with the U.S. have been extended another month until at least April 21.

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