“For the sixteenth straight month, the federal government has extended the restrictions on crossing the U.S.-Canada border. This frustrating decision only compounds the challenges facing families separated by the border, as well as local business owners, and continues to hamper the North Country’s economic recovery and defies logic.”

“The lack of a comprehensive reopening plan means that border communities can’t adequately prepare for the future or even have a sense of when we can expect to reopen this critical land crossing. There were promising signs this month that the United States and Canada were moving toward a reopening agreement, though this decision dashes those hopes for another 30 days. With Canada’s recent decision to open the border to vaccinated Americans starting on August 9th, America should follow suit and should do so ASAP.”

“As co-chair of CSG East’s Canada-U.S. Relations Committee, I’ve been working to find solutions to the border issue since this pandemic began and I won’t be deterred by this disappointing announcement. I’ll keep working to put North Country interests first and enact fair border reopening policies.”