(Washington) Premiers and U.S. governors are calling for hours of operation at land border crossings between the two countries to return to what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted at 3:50 p.m.
The group of elected officials have written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden arguing that reduced hours at some offices are hurting the economy.
The letter is signed by the Premiers of Alberta, Jason Kenney, Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, and Manitoba, Heather Stefanson, as well as the Governors of Montana, Greg Gianforte, and North Dakota, Doug Burgum.
Elected officials say travelers and businesses have to scramble to find border crossings that are open longer, which comes with added fuel and labor costs.
They say the reduced hours also penalize small communities near the borders, whose economy depends heavily on international traffic.
The letter, however, contains no reference to the United States still requiring international travelers to be adequately vaccinated against COVID-19 — a requirement that Canada dropped last weekend.
“Residents and businesses on both sides of the border are concerned that the reduced hours could become permanent,” the letter read.
The group adds that the problems in the supply chain that have persisted since the start of the pandemic cannot be resolved as long as cross-border travel remains limited by restricted opening hours.
“Returning to pre-pandemic opening hours will ensure efficient and smooth movement of people and goods, which can only improve business activity and reduce inflationary pressure on both sides of the border. »
A notice on the Canada Border Services Agency website warns that opening hours are limited at nearly 40 land ports of entry, primarily in the Prairie provinces, as well as in Quebec, New Brunswick and British Columbia.