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.
Press-Republican
A sign points the way to the Canadian border crossing near the Rouses Point United States Border Inspection Station.
(Provided photo â Ben Rowe, Press-Republican) PLATTSBURGH In the face of yet another expected extension of restrictions on nonessential travel across the U.S.-Canada border, North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas again called for a greater sense of urgency from both governments to come up with a plan for what reopening could look like. “The U.S.-Canada relationship is unique in the world but is based upon people-to-people connectivity, not government-to-government,” he said in a statement Monday.
PLATTSBURGH â U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, and other members of Congress are urging President Joe Biden to immediately prioritize collaborating with Canada on safely reopening the northern border.
In a letter co-led by Stefanik and fellow House Northern Border Caucus Co-chair Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Niagara Falls/Buffalo, the members put forward actions they hope the administration will consider, including the creation of a bilateral plan for restoring travel and development of a policy that would allow property owners to cross.
âI have worked tirelessly with our counterparts in Canada on this issue, as it continues to impact North Country businesses, families and communities,â Stefanik said in a statement Friday.
PLATTSBURGH — While some may speculate on the talking points of U.S. President Joe Biden’s Friday call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Garry Douglas finds the “fresh and renewed”