Border changes will allow New Westminster couple to reunite after nine months

NEW WESTMINSTER (NEW 1130) — Kayla Riggs cried after hearing the federal government was going to allow extended family to enter into Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The changes mean the New Westminster woman might finally be able to see her boyfriend, Kevin, in person for the first time since January. He’s been in Scotland since the COVID-19 pandemic started, with no way to come to Canada.

“I’m in shock. I’ve been in shock since I found out that they, you know, put these exemptions in and I’m going to celebrate tonight, and I can’t wait to tell all my friends and family and celebrate with them all,” she said.

READ ALSO: Feds allow extended family to enter Canada during pandemic

Beginning Oct. 8, extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be allowed to enter the country as long as they follow quarantine rules and get authorization.

Until now, there were exemptions made for immediate family members who wanted to come to Canada. Anybody entering the country on these grounds would still have to quarantine for 14 days.

Sarah Campbell, an Ontario woman who is fighting cancer and trying to get her partner home, was personally mentioned by Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino during the announcement.

“I was crying a lot by that point. I haven’t looked at too much else. Congratulations everyone, this is the beginning of something bigger and better,” she said.

The changes mean Riggs and her boyfriend will be able to reconnect, hopefully before the year ends.

“We were Facetiming each other, and when I heard the minister of immigration announce who was now going to be exempted — the extended family, committed couples — I think I just looked at him and I screamed and he looked at me with the biggest smile on his face,” she added.

“To maintain this relationship over FaceTime and WhatsApp and pictures and messages and mail, and now that I know that he can come back to Canada, we can spend time together, I just couldn’t be happier.”

Riggs is thanking the group Faces of Advocacy, which has been pushing the feds to allow for more family reunification, although she feels the government could have acted sooner on this.

She said some people had relatives or partners died while separate by travel restrictions during the pandemic.

Riggs is still in shock, though, at her good fortune.

“I’ve been in shock since I found out that they, you know, put these exemptions in and I’m going to celebrate tonight, and I can’t wait to tell all my friends and family and celebrate with them all.”

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