THUNDER BAY – A trio of Minnesota congressmen are among 29 U.S. lawmakers who have appealed to both governments to work toward reopening the border between Canada and the United States.
Pete Stauber (R-MN-8), Tom Emmer (R-MN-6) and Collin Peterson (D-MN-7) have asked Department of Homeland Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair to consider creating a comprehensive plan to begin a phased reopening of the border, which has been closed since March.
The two countries have repeatedly extended the initial March agreement, which is currently set to expire on July 21.
It’s not sustainable said the letter’s signees.
“Continuing to extend border restrictions at 30-day intervals is untenable for the communities that have been separated from family and unable to tend to their property for over three months,” the letter reads.
In addition to a more permanent plan, the Northern Border Caucus is also looking for temporary measures that would ease restrictions of family members and property owners – including those with property with U.S. soil accessible through cross-border travel to restore the social bond between the two nations.
“We hope that our legacy of bi-national co-operation would lend to the development of a thorough plan to protect the health of our shared communities and reinvigorate them in this time of recovery.”
Stauber represents the 8th District, which includes Duluth, International Falls and all of Cook County, as well as Hinckley, while Emmer represents the sixth district, which includes Blaine and St. Cloud. Peterson’s District 7 includes Lake of the Woods.
Currently, anyone arriving in Canada from the United States must self-isolate for 14 days. Asked on Wednesday about the likelihood of reopening the border after the next deadline passes, Health Minister Patty Hajdu told tbnewswatch.com that she was working toward keeping it closed. An infectious disease specialist told CBC the border may have to be kept closed to all but essential traffic or those with immediate family until 2021.
