Posted on 07/30/2020 12:50:44 PM PDT by rickmichaels
The Canadian Border Service Agency is imposing stricter restrictions on American motorists crossing the border on their way to Alaska.
The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to all non-essential traffic since March 21 and will remain closed until Aug. 21, when the issue will be reconsidered by the Canadian and American governments. However, a loophole exists that allows Americans to travel through Canada by car if they are heading to Alaska.
Beginning Friday, all foreign nationals aiming to drive through Canada to the northernmost U.S. state for non-discretionary purposes, such as work or going to a primary residence, will be restricted to crossing at one of five CBSA border entries: Abbotsford-Huntingdon, Osoyoos and Kingsgate in B.C.; Coutts in Alberta; and North Portal in Saskatchewan.
Alaska-bound travellers who arrive at non-designated border crossings will be denied entry, the CBSA said.
Motorists must travel through Canada using the most direct route to Alaska, avoiding national parks and tourist sites, and are required to hang a tag from rear-view mirror that includes the date they must depart Canada.
Before entering Alaska, they will also be required to report to the nearest CBSA border point of entry to confirm their exit from Canada.
The CBSA said the measures are being put in place to further reduce the risk of introduction and spread of COVID-19 by minimizing the amount of time in-transit travellers are in Canada.
The border agency said its officers have the final decision on whether travellers meet the requirements for entry into Canada.
“Travellers are encouraged to have documentation that will demonstrate their purpose of travel,” the agency said in a release.
Following admission into Canada, travellers are given a handout telling them they must avoid contact with others while in transit, remain in their vehicle as much as possible and should pay for gas at the pump and use drive-thru options for food.
They are told not to make any unnecessary stops and to wear a mask or face covering.
The CBSA said failure to comply with the current border restrictions is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to $750,000 in fines, and/or imprisonment of up to six months.
Premier John Horgan, who earlier this month expressed concerns that some Alaska-bound travellers were enjoying the “sights and sounds of British Columbia” instead of travelling straight to their destination, welcomes the tighter regulations.
“My thanks to the federal government for listening to the concerns of British Columbians and implementing new rules for Americans who are passing through our province. First and foremost, we must all be respectful of each other. We look forward to the day when our borders are open and we can welcome travellers from all over but we aren’t there yet,” Horgan said Thursday.
In June, posts on social media claimed some Americans had been visiting popular tourist destinations in Canada, such as Banff National Park, after telling border agents they were driving to Alaska.
The RCMP issued tickets to some individuals for violating the Public Health Act during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wait, I thought Trudeau said borders were bad.
What if you are traveling in a Level-5 Hazmat suit? Askin’ for a friend...
Not enough social distancing in the Yukon, eh?
Do these rules apply if you’re wearing a burqua?
Oh those crazy Canucks. They actually think they are a real country.
HA! excellent.
My dear dead Godmother would add “son of a whore, too”
until Canada grows up and elects a real man for prime minister, I can’t respect them....Americans bring tons of cash to Canada in tourism alone and you’d think they would be more respectful....
Why don’t we just buy that corridor and be done with it?
Does the U.S. and Canada have a safe passage agreement?
Does Canada have the right to control who enters their country?
Can the U.S. place sanctions on Canada to not allowing U.S. citizens to make an unencumbered safe passage to and from Alaska?
Do you find it all ironic that flying over fly-over country started in fly-over country?
Do you find it at all ironic that flying over fly-over country started in fly-over country?
Trump could respond by barring Canadians from traveling to Hollywood. They’d cave in about fifteen minutes.
why buy it if we can invade and conquer it?
Side note - before all this Canadian ports were making sounds like they did not want cruise ships docking in their port. Well they got their wish, no cruise ships are docking in Canadian ports. No ships, no tourist, no tourist dollars.
I wonder what the small tour operators, and business think of no American money now?
Be careful for what you wish for, you may get it.
Never really thought about it ....
Never really thought about it ....
Pig war.
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