Press-Republican
PLATTSBURGH — Former Premier of Quebec Jean Charest believes the northern border will remain closed to nonessential travel until such a time when vaccinations are up and the number of Canadians and Americans affected by COVID-19 are down.
“The key is vaccination,” Charest said repeatedly during a Wednesday morning webinar with about 350 listeners. It focused on the border’s reopening and was co-hosted by the North Country Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Quebec Chambers of Commerce.
While waiting for the ideal conditions, the former premier stressed the importance of pushing bi-national leaders to pen a reopening plan.
“I’m going to be honest with you. In the discussions we’ve had, we did not feel that there was a sense of urgency, either on the American or on the Canadian side, to address this issue,” he said. “We did not get that sense, that feeling that this was something that they have to deal with right now.