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Higgins, Ortt respond to Canada's plan to lift northern border restrictions

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Tue, Sep 27th 2022 09:50 am

Higgins says US should follow immediately

Congressman Brian Higgins released the following statement in reaction to the announcement the Canadian government will end random testing, drop the coronavirus vaccine requirement, and make the use of ArriveCAN voluntary for those crossing the border between the U.S. and Canada:

“It has been two-and-a-half long years of border restrictions between the United States and Canada. The extended measures have kept loved ones apart, and kept border communities from reaching full economic recovery. The end of restrictions is overdue. Canada’s decision is the right one. The U.S. should follow immediately.”

Last week, Higgins, who serves as co-chair of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group (IPG) and the Northern Border Caucus, sent a letter to the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security calling for the U.S. to act. His team said, “At a recent meeting of the Canada-U.S. IPG, representatives from both countries agreed reducing border restrictions, including making ArriveCAN optional, were necessary to facilitate a return to pre-pandemic levels of travel and commerce.”

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt said, “The lifting of burdensome travel requirements at the Canadian border is long overdue and welcome news, particularly for our border communities that have suffered economically for more than two years. 

“New Yorkers saw the freedom to connect and gather with family and friends suppressed during the pandemic – a freedom that should never again be in the hands of an overbearing government.

“I have been calling for the travel restrictions to be removed for months, because our economy in Western New York is directly correlated with a strong relationship with our Canadian neighbors.

“This is great news for the economy and tourism in Western New York, and I am thankful to my partners in government at all levels who worked together to get this done.”

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