BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) The U.S. Canada border is open. Traffic, however, is not even close to returning to pre-pandemic levels.
On WBEN Tuesday morning, Congressman Brian Higgins said all Ontario bridges are seeing 40% less traffic in a two year period between June of 2019 and June of 2022. That figure is equally distributed on the U.S. and Canadian side.
"What's happening here, is that people are adjusting their economic
activity and behavior to avoid the bridge, because the current Covid restrictions are too much of a hassle. It's a view that is shared by folks who live in the province of Ontario including the greater Toronto area as well as Western New York," said Higgins.
The Congressman called the restrictions an over-reach.
"We need these pandemic restrictions lifted. It needs to occur
on both sides of the border so we can realize the full economic and
life quality benefits that come from being situated on an international border."
This is not all on Canada. Higgins said the U.S. is also to blame. There is a vaccination requirement to come into the U.S.
Travel to Canada requires proof of vaccination with travel documents uploaded to the ArriveCAN mobile app and travelers are subject to random Covid testing.
Higgins was asked if the U.S. should lift its restriction in the hopes that Canada will do the same?
"U.S. policy with respect to the northern border for the past two years has been awful," lamented Higgins. "It's been inconsistent, conflicting and confusing and the economy generally does not respond well to uncertainty and confusion. It's incumbent upon both the United States and Canada to speak clearly with one voice about a consistent policy. That has never occurred," he added. "And it's the only thing people are looking for. Lift the restrictions," he reiterated.
A WBEN.com webpoll Tuesday asked respondents how often they have crossed the border into Canada since the pandemic eased. "Never" was the overwhelming choice of 96% of those who answered the poll.
"Canada is not a hostile neighbor. There are 120 border crossings. We should be able to cross the border into Canada, and Canada into the United States, without a two hour delay. That is not occurring right now because of things like the ArriveCAN app. Check the Peace Bridge," he said. "To get into Canada, it's often a two hour wait because of all of the restrictions. That's unacceptable. Why would anybody embark on a trip from Western New York to Canada, knowing that it's going to be interrupted by a two hour wait?"
Higgins is again calling on the two federal governments to speak with one clear voice. "We see from the statistics at the bridges. People have responded by not moving. That's not good for the United States and it's not good for Canada."
The Canadian border reopened on August 9, 2021 and the U.S. reopened its border on November 8, 2021, each with different restrictions.
