88 per cent in B.C. oppose easing restrictions on cross-border travel: poll

BELLINGHAM (NEWS 1130) — With restrictions on Canada-U.S. border crossings set to expire in days, a new poll says the vast majority of Canadians favour an extension “until the end of the pandemic.”

Results of a poll released Thursday say 85 per cent of Canadians want the border with the U.S. to remain closed to non-essential travel.

“Interestingly enough, that was up to 88 per cent if you just look at the respondents from British Columbia. So that tells us that British Columbians are even more concerned about travel across borders,” explains Karina Guy with KPMG, which conducted the poll.

Across the line in Bellingham, City Council President Gene Knutson, says the limits on travel have hit hard in Whatcom County.

“For the smaller towns I think it’s been devastating. For the Bellingham economy and the county as a whole –without the Canadians coming down here it’s a big impact,” he says.

“On the roads, the freeways, the parking lots –everywhere– without our Canadian friends you can really tell the difference.”

Knutsen says the results of the poll are “astonishing” and he suspects a poll of his constituents would reveal widespread support for easing restrictions.

“I know a lot of personal friends, some of our neighbours are married to Canadians who haven’t seen their husbands or wives ever since they closed the border. I hear more negative about it being closed than positive.”

Knutsen is hopeful more travel will be allowed starting in June.

“I hope it can get opened up sooner rather than later,” he says. “This has been a very trying time.”

Testing is ramping up, and the curve is flattening, according to Knutsen.

“The state of Washington now is starting to open up more and more every day,” he says.

“We’ve been very lucky in Whatcom county, compared to other areas.”

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to all non-essential travel since March 21. Truck drivers, Canadians and Americans who cross the border for essential work or other “urgent” reasons, as well as some others are exempt from the closure.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the federal government plans to be “very, very careful” in dealing with an increase in cross-border traffic as businesses reopen and restrictions on personal mobility are slowly eased in both countries. However, he did not say whether he expects the border to reopen when the mutual ban expires next week.

There have been rumblings about the Canadian and U.S. governments working on possibly extending the agreement to June 21.

With files from the Canadian Press