CBSA travel advisory indicates some non-vaccinated US visitors can enter Canada
Posted August 8, 2021 2:23 pm.
Last Updated August 9, 2021 11:08 am.
POINT ROBERTS, WA (NEWS 1130) — After months of being told it’s not safe for them to visit British Columbia, people in Point Roberts, Washington are wondering why they will be allowed to cross the border without being fully immunized against COVID-19.
That loophole contained in a travel advisory issued by the Canada Border Services Agency on August 5th has been flagged by longtime Point Roberts resident Brian Calder.
“It says US citizens/permanent residents who are not fully vaccinated and who are habitual residents of Hyder (Alaska), Northwest Angle (Minnesota) or Point Roberts (Washington) will be eligible to enter Canada to carry out everyday functions. It doesn’t have to be essential travel. The whole thing needs to be clarified.”
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Calder, who is the chair of the local Chamber of Commerce, says he doesn’t understand why this is suddenly possible.
“Non-vaccinated people being allowed. That just boggles my mind. We’ve got an 87 per cent vaccination rate that has been in place for two months. I got vaccinated back in February and we’re on it. I mean, we’ve got one of the best records in North America and we want to keep it that way.”
For months, the former resident of Vancouver has been front and centre asking governments on both sides of the border to keep Point Roberts from becoming a ghost town.
“I mean, we’ve been frustrated. We’ve been locked down and abused and we’ve got the best record in North America and we’re treated the worst.”
#PointRoberts Chamber of Commerce Chair Brian Calder tells @NEWS1130's @pjimmyradio "Non-vaccinated people being allowed. That just boggles my mind. We've got an 87% vaccination rate… We've got one of the best records in North America and we want to keep it that way." #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/ksYLmVIrfk
— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) August 8, 2021
Calder’s also seeking clarity on what people should expect when they try to cross in because he says he’s encountered border guards who outright refused him entry into Canada for medical appointments.
“The interpretations are going to drive this whole thing… The whole demeanor at the border is absolutely critical to what’s going to in fact be take place on the ground.”
BC Health Minister Adrian Dix is also expressing concerns about some visitors from the U.S. being allowed to gain entry without being fully immunized against COVID-19.
In a statement emailed to NEWS 1130, he says “While understanding this is a federal decision, my position is simple – everyone who enters Canada should be vaccinated. Point Roberts has a very high vaccination rate, and it’s easy to get vaccinated. People should be vaccinated to enter Canada and that should be the rule for everyone, regardless of which community they live in.”
NEWS 1130 is still waiting for a response from the CBSA and Public Health Agency of Canada, as well as the provincial government.
