BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - With reports out of Canada suggesting that officials may only "tweak" travel restrictions when the current border closure expires next week, Congressman Brian Higgins (D-NY26) joined WBEN's Bmaz & Beamer Wednesday morning to say it's wrong.
"Canadians have been vaccinated at a much higher percentage than they were ten days ago. Full vaccination means strong immunity against getting Covid or giving Covid," he said. "They need to open the border. This continued delay without any vision is complete and utter nonsense."
The Toronto Star Wednesday cited two sources who expect only minor tweaks to the border closure in the short term. This would throw cold water on any plans for Canada to throw open its doors to fully vaccinated tourists or travelers.
Canada and the U.S. have been renewing the deal that keeps the border closed to non-essential travel on a monthly basis. The current one is set to expire July 21.
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the most prestigious public health agency in the world," said Higgins. "They have said, if you are fully vaccinated, you can return to pre-pandemic activity, without wearing a face mask, without social distancing and without quarantines."
Higgins acknowledging that the U.S. helped to increase the vaccination rate of Canadians with the White House providing Canada with a million Moderna vaccines. Approximately 78 per cent of Canadians age 12 and up have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. More than 50 per cent of Canadians are fully vaccinated.
"All the metrics have been achieved," said Higgins. "That's the thing that is so frustrating."
The Congressman says keeping loved ones separated for 16 months and not offering a vision on when they will be reunited, is wrong. And he says people who own cottages and homes in Canada, who live in Buffalo and Western New York, and are fully vaccinated, and can't go and enjoy their property, is wrong.
"They made an arbitrary exclusion for hockey players, not because of science, but because of the NHL playoff schedule," said Higgins, "And now there's potentially a decision to return the Toronto Blue Jays back to Toronto because they want their team back. These decisions are arbitrary." Higgins believes sports exemptions should not come before separated loved ones and property owners are allowed to cross.
The Blue Jays have been playing their home games since June 1st at Sahlen Field in Buffalo. The team has officially proposed a July 30 return to Rogers Center pending approval from the Canadian federal government.
