Impatient, they hit the road as soon as possible: many “snowbirds” lined up Monday to enter the United States, for the reopening of the border after 20 months.
Since March 2020, pandemic obliges, Canadians could no longer cross the land border to reach their American neighbors, with the exception of people coming for reasons deemed essential.
All these travelers can now enter as long as they are vaccinated.
“It’s been about six, seven hours that we wait to pass,” told AFP Daniel Francœur, driving his SUV. Cap on his head alongside his wife, he left his home around 1.30 am to arrive as soon as possible.
“It’s been two years since we went to Florida, we didn’t want to wait another day! He adds impatiently.
Like Mr. Francœur, as soon as these restrictions were lifted, many of them rushed to the Thousand Islands Bridge post in Ontario, noted an AFP journalist.
In the morning, hundreds of vehicles were stopped in a thick haze near this 83-year-old bridge, whose 8 miles are suspended over the St.Lawrence River and connect the province to New State. York.
Great “relief”
“There has been a wait since 11:30 pm last night,” said Scott Carl, border services officer, yellow jacket on his back, directing motorists to the entrance to the bridge.
At around 2 p.m., the wait time was around two hours, according to the U.S. border crossing site. In Lacolle, Quebec, travelers waited more than three hours before being able to cross.
“It’s a big sigh of relief and people are very happy to be able to reconnect with their Florida,” Johanne Blain, one of the leaders of the Canadian Snowbirds Association, told AFP.
Usually, from October to January, “between 900,000 and one million” Canadian “snowbirds”, including 250,000 Quebecers, go “a month or more” to spend the winter in the southern United States, according to Ms. Blain.
The lifting of the Washington travel ban was eagerly awaited by Canadians.
“I was so excited to go to Florida that I forgot to put a pair of shorts and a t-shirt in my suitcase! »Exclaims Carole Bérubé-Doyon, originally from northern Quebec, alongside her husband, Bernard.
“We have butterflies in our stomachs, we can’t wait to get to our apartment,” adds the latter.
“Snowbirds” for 17 years, this couple planned their trip as soon as the border was reopened when winter was already coming to the fore in northern Quebec, which has already seen snow this year.
Canada had allowed Americans to enter the country since early August, but the reciprocal was not possible.