WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) issued the statement below following the Canadian government’s announcement that it would ease border entry restrictions on April 1. Klobuchar also renewed her calls for the U.S. and Canadian governments to ease restrictions on travelers using the Remote Area Border Crossing Program, which allows U.S. travelers to enter Canada via water or ice, rather than land or air ports of entry.
“As chair of the U.S.-Canada Inter-Parliamentary working group, I have long advocated for eliminating barriers to travel between Canada and the United States because cross-border travel is crucial to businesses and families across Minnesota,” said Klobuchar. “While this announcement is welcome, more work still needs to be done to ease cross-border travel, particularly with addressing challenges surrounding the Remote Area Border Crossing Program. I’ll keep fighting for Minnesotans to safely and conveniently access their businesses and residences across the Canadian border.”
Last week, Klobuchar urged the Biden administration to work with the Canadian government to explore options to ease border restrictions between the two countries.
“While many restrictions to enter Canada have been lifted, the Remote Area Border Crossing Program is still in place. Without the Remote Area Border Crossing Program, many properties and businesses remain functionally unreachable,” Klobuchar wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “As the Biden Administration continues to move forward with a plan to allow us to navigate life with more normalcy while preparing for future coronavirus mutations or variants, the need for drastic restrictions on travel should give way to common-sense solutions that will allow for U.S. residents to visit their homes and businesses in Canada.”
Klobuchar has long advocated for safely re-opening the U.S.-Canadian border. In November, Klobuchar met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and called on the Canadian government to ensure parity in border entry requirements. She also successfully led efforts to ease border restrictions over land and ferry ports of entry.
The full text of Klobuchar’s letter to the State Department and Homeland Security Department is available HERE and below:
Dear Secretary Blinken and Secretary Mayorkas:
I write to ask that the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security work with the Canadian government to explore options to ease some border restrictions between the U.S. and Canada and to address the unique challenges facing those wishing to travel to Canada utilizing the Remote Area Border Crossing Program, which allows U.S. residents to enter Canada via water or ice, rather than a land port of entry, airport, or ferry terminal.
The pandemic has affected people across borders, and both the United States and Canada took necessary and understandable actions to stem its spread, including limiting non-essential travel. While many restrictions to enter Canada have been lifted, the Remote Area Border Crossing Program is still in place. The Remote Area Border Crossing Program allowed residents to apply for permits which allowed individuals to call and inform them of their notification to travel to Canada. Without the Remote Area Border Crossing Program, many properties and businesses remain functionally unreachable.
This is an issue that primarily affects those along the Minnesota/Ontario border, and as other restrictions have been lifted and vaccine requirements put into place, my constituents are still hoping for a solution to allow them to access their businesses and residences in Canada.
As the Biden Administration continues to move forward with a plan to allow us to navigate life with more normalcy while preparing for future coronavirus mutations or variants, the need for drastic restrictions on travel should give way to common-sense solutions that will allow for U.S. residents to visit their homes and businesses in Canada.
Just as our countries have come together to find solutions to our common problems over our long history together, I ask that you work with your Canadian counterparts to identify and implement appropriate measures that will restore access to this part of our state.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
###
