Governors want Biden to explain why the U.S. border is shuttered to Canadians

OTTAWA — Nine governors want the Biden administration to explain why it is keeping the U.S. border closed to most Canadians.

"It is our strongly held view as Governors that the public health data, science and advice of our own experts support a responsible, timely reopening plan,” the border state governors wrote in a joint letter, dated Friday, to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“At this point in the nation’s work to get the economy back on track, it is imperative that the federal government work more closely and transparently with us and our Canadian provincial counterparts to quickly define and implement a reopening plan.”

The backdrop: The Trudeau government announced last week that fully vaccinated Americans will be allowed to enter Canada for discretionary travel starting Aug. 9.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision came amid climbing vaccination rates in Canada and falling Covid caseloads and hospitalizations.

A couple of days later, the Biden administration renewed its restrictions on nonessential travel at U.S.-Canada land and ferry crossings until at least Aug. 21. U.S. officials have cited the continued spread of Covid within the U.S. and globally as well as the Delta variant’s emergence as factors.

The U.S. decision was met with frustration. For months, families separated from loved ones, business leaders and lawmakers have been upping the pressure on President Joe Biden to loosen border measures or at least provide a detailed plan.

The border, which is a key source of economic activity for communities on both sides, has been shuttered to discretionary travelers since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

The demand for clarity: In their letter, the governors said the U.S. call to extend the border restrictions is deepening the already significant economic impacts of the pandemic on northern border communities and states.

“We write to you requesting additional information — preferably in the form of a detailed briefing — related to COVID-19 travel restrictions that impact the U.S.-Canadian border,” the governors wrote.

The state leaders said they specifically want to know what kind of information the federal government based its border decision on and the metrics necessary to reopen the frontier.

They also pressed the administration for clarity on how the government plans to assist affected communities and “any other obstacles that may exist to timely implementation of a thoughtful, clearly defined reopening plan.”

The letter was signed by Alaska’s Mike Dunleavy, Minnesota’s Tim Walz, New Hampshire’s Chris Sununu, Ohio’s Mike DeWine, Washington’s Jay Inslee, Maine’s Janet Mills, Montana’s Greg Gianforte, North Dakota’s Doug Burgum and Vermont’s Phil Scott.

What’s next: Canada will start welcoming vaccinated U.S. visitors Aug. 9, but there are no signs the U.S. is prepared to start reopening its land crossings to Canadians, even on Aug. 21.

All eyes — and political pressure — will be on the White House over the coming weeks for any hints the U.S. will ease the border restrictions.

Last week, following the Trudeau and Biden decisions, top Canadian and American envoys insisted the countries remained committed to a coordinated easing of the border restrictions — even if they're moving at different speeds. Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman noted that American rules have permitted Canadians to fly to the U.S. throughout the pandemic, while Canada has restricted land border travel and flights.