Canada, U.S. border temporarily closing to non-essential traffic to slow COVID-19
U.S. President Donald Trump says temporary restrictions could last 30 days
Canada and the United States have agreed to restrict non-essential travel across the border as both countries try to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus — but they insist key supplies will still flow between the two nations.
U.S. President Donald Trump first tweeted the news Wednesday morning. Soon afterward, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a news conference to announce that travellers will no longer be able to cross the border for recreational and tourism purposes.
"These measures will last in place as long as we feel they need to last," he told reporters from outside his home at Rideau Cottage, on the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa, where he's in self-isolation.
"In both our countries, we're encouraging people to stay home. We're telling our citizens not to visit their neighbours if they don't absolutely have to."
Canadian citizens will still be able to get home, although the government says travellers presenting symptoms won't be able to board flights.
WATCH: Canada, U.S. closing border to non-essential traffic
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said that Canadians and Americans who cross the border every day to do essential work will not be affected.
"We know, for example, there are many border cities where citizens on one side of the border travel each day across that border to work in hospitals and to provide other essential services," he said. "We have to make sure those people can get to work."
Blair also said international students, workers on visas and temporary foreign workers will also be able to enter Canada, with the expectation that they'll respect the government's request to self-isolate for 14 days.
The minister told CBC's Power & Politics talks about halting recreational visits began on Tuesday and moved "very, very rapidly."
The border restrictions will kick in within "hours or days," said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, noting that some $2.7 billion in trade crosses the border every day.
Trudeau said both countries agreed to preserve the supply chains which ensure that food, fuel and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border.
"Supply chains, including trucking, will not be affected by this new measure," he said.
At his own press conference in Washington, Trump said the temporary restrictions, which he stressed were the result of a mutual decision, could last a month.
"I would say 30 days, and hopefully at the end of 30 days we'll be in great shape," he said.
"I think essential is medical, we have military working together, we have industry working together, and again it's not affecting trade, so things like that. But just leisurely — let's go to a restaurant to have dinner, which a lot of people do, they come both ways, they go on both directions, that kind of thing we have ended on a temporary basis."
Restricting travel in Canada on the table: Trudeau
Despite the conciliatory tone of the statements from the Canadian and U.S. federal governments, the bilateral relationship has been under strain during the last two years over trade issues — and not everyone is taking comfort from the promises to let two-way trade flow.
The Canadian American Business Council issued an email Wednesday urging its members to submit testimonials about the importance of cross-border commercial channels "to make the case that these measures not be broadened in the future to include commerce."
"We are particularly looking for anecdotes from your companies that illustrate some of the critical functions of your cross-border business," wrote CABC chief executive Maryscott Greenwood.
Wednesday's border announcement came just as the government unveiled a massive $82-billion aid package to help Canadians and businesses cope with the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The package includes income supports, wage subsidies and tax deferrals — $27 billion in direct supports and another $55 billion to help business liquidity through tax deferrals.
Trudeau hinted that more measures are on the table to curb the spread of the virus.
When asked if he's considering limiting travel within Canada, Trudeau said his government is "looking at all options."
"We will continue to look at measures as they become necessary," he said, adding that invoking the Emergencies Act would be a "significant step."
"Not one that we feel we need today, but not one we are closing the door to in the future if necessary."
We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow!
—@realDonaldTrumpThe Emergencies Act allows the federal government to declare a public welfare emergency and empowers it to
prohibit travel, requisition and use property, order qualified people to provide essential services and regulate the distribution of goods.
Ottawa has to consult with the provinces before triggering it and seek parliamentary approval within seven sitting days.
The Emergencies Act, which came into effect in 1988, has never been invoked by the federal government. It replaced the War Measures Act, last used by Trudeau's father during the 1970 FLQ crisis.
On Monday, when Trudeau announced his government would deny entry to almost all foreigners, he made an exception for Americans — but added that exception would be reviewed.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he supports Wednesday's decision, but thinks it could have been made earlier.
"I called out the fact that when the exception was made for tourists from the United States, I was concerned about whether that was in line with what the experts were calling for. I want to make sure that any decision we make in terms of how we're approaching COVID-19 is based on science, based on the evidence," he said.
"This decision is something that seems to be in line with the evidence and in line [with] what the public health experts are calling for, so in that respect I am supportive."
The prime minister also said no one who is displaying symptoms will be permitted to board a flight to Canada.
WATCH: PM assures Canadians the economy will 'bounce back strongly'
Canadians crossing at a land border will be screened for symptoms. Sick individuals will be referred to public health authorities on the Canadian side of the border, but they will be allowed into the country.
Major crossings will have quarantine officers on site to intercept the sick and supply masks.
"We know there are very many Canadians who are presently in the United States and are very quickly making their way home, and I want to assure them all, Canadians will always be allowed to return to Canada," Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Tuesday of people crossing by land.
In 2019, 25 million travellers entered Canada from the U.S., according to Statistics Canada, while Canadian residents returned from 43.8 million trips to the United States that year.
With files from David Cochrane, Alex Panetta, Fannie Olivier and The Canadian Press
