Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

COVID testing a concern for Point Roberts, Wash.

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Oct, 2021 10:05 AM
  • COVID testing a concern for Point Roberts, Wash.

VANCOUVER - COVID-19 testing requirements for Canadians driving home from the United States could only prolong the hardships for the tiny coastal town of Point Roberts, Wash., community leaders say.

Point Roberts is disconnected from the rest of the state by water, requiring residents to drive through Metro Vancouver to get to Washington state's mainland.

Brian Calder, president of the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce, said that before COVID-19, the community would see about 1.5 million visitors each year, but half of them often spent an hour or less in the town getting cheaper gas, buying groceries or checking on their cabins or boats.

When the U.S. border reopens to vaccinated Canadians, there will be no testing requirement to go south, but Canada requires a negative COVID-19 test to return and Calder said that's a problem for Point Roberts.

Point Roberts only offers testing on Wednesdays and Sundays, which he said would limit Canadian visitors.

He said he's hoping theCanadian government lifts the testing regulation for the town.

"We're a completely unique place in North America and we deserve to be treated uniquely," he said, citing a 87 per cent vaccination rate in the community. "We've been very proactive as a community. The last thing we want is to be conduits of COVID, but we're not being listened to."

Land and sea borders between the U.S. and Canada have been closed to non-essential travel since March 21, 2020, and the closure order was extended every 30 days until Oct. 12, when the White House confirmed it would be officially reopening the border to Canadians next month.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated have been allowed to enter Canada by land since Aug. 9.

Calder said the closure has been "economically devastating" for the town, where 90 per cent of the economy was eliminated because of pandemic travel restrictions.

"It's dependent on Canada, not neighbouring communities in the United States, so when you close that border, we're toast."

Ali Hayton, owner of Point Roberts International Marketplace, the community's only grocery store, said she was excited to hear the border news but remains "guardedly hopeful."

"They've gotten our hopes up before, so I'm hoping it's real this time because we just need our customers back," said Hayton.

In July, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee visited the point and provided Hayton with $100,000 in state funding to help keep her business operating.

"The loss of revenue in the last 19 months is well over $10 million, so the funding did help, but it only scratches the surface," she said. "We've been really struggling, especially since Aug. 9, when they allowed our (American) customers to leave without allowing any Canadians to come back down."

Calder said he estimates it will take two to three years for the local economy to recover should borders remain open and the testing requirement is lifted, but citizens arewary of the border potentially closing again.

"The confidence in our border ability has been dashed and that will undermine what it will now take to bring people back and rebuild the economy," he said. "People come here for calmness, tranquility and recreation. They don't want apprehension and fear, so that's my biggest concern now."

While the U.S. administration has said the land border will reopen in early November, an exact date hasn't been released.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

TSB releasing report on wildfire in Lytton, B.C.

TSB releasing report on wildfire in Lytton, B.C.
The board says it will hold a news conference Thursday after the publication of its report with the results of the investigation. The fire raced through the town on June 30, days after a record-setting heat at the end of June.

TSB releasing report on wildfire in Lytton, B.C.

Canadians say Facebook harms mental health: poll

Canadians say Facebook harms mental health: poll
The vast majority also agreed that Facebook amplifies hate speech, helps spread fake news, damages individuals' mental health and poses a risk to children and teenagers.

Canadians say Facebook harms mental health: poll

Sarnia mayor welcomes U.S. land border reopening

Sarnia mayor welcomes U.S. land border reopening
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said Wednesday that he believes Canadians will be cautious about driving south for day trips given that some parts of the U.S. have looser public health measures and higher COVID-19 case counts — a concern he said also emerged when Canada eased its border restrictions for Americans earlier this year.

Sarnia mayor welcomes U.S. land border reopening

Canada's antisemitism envoy to be permanent: PM

Canada's antisemitism envoy to be permanent: PM
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is making the announcement today in a virtual appearance at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism.

Canada's antisemitism envoy to be permanent: PM

West Fraser to buy U.S. sawmill for US$300 million

West Fraser to buy U.S. sawmill for US$300 million
The purchase from Angelina Forest Products will be funded with cash on hand and is expected to close after receiving U.S. regulatory approvals. The Vancouver-based company will provide further details about the transaction during its third-quarter earnings call on Oct. 28.

West Fraser to buy U.S. sawmill for US$300 million

Former homeless site in Vancouver open to public

Former homeless site in Vancouver open to public
The east side of the park was closed in May to allow remediation work after hundreds of campers were moved to indoor housing. The campers moved to Strathcona after being forced out of two other city parks.

Former homeless site in Vancouver open to public