News reports: Non-essential travel restrictions between U.S./Canada expected beyond June 21 - newyorkupstate.com

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Non-essential travel restrictions affecting those wishing to cross the U.S./Canadian border that were set to expire June 21 stand a good chance of being extended, according to media reports.

Wednesday, Canada’s CBC news reported the restrictions will be extended beyond the June 21 date set last month, citing unnamed sources.

Also, Reuters.com reported that “Canada and the United States are set to extend a ban on non-essential travel to late July as both countries seek to control the spread of the coronavirus, according to three sources familiar with the matter.”

A spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency told NYup.com this morning “there are lots of rumors and we don’t comment on rumors.

“We won’t know until the actual time comes," he said. "There’s nothing official yet. Chances are, yeah it will be extended -- possibly with amendments.”

Both countries introduced month long restrictions in March and renewed them in April and May. The ban, currently set to expire June 21, does not affect trade.

In regard to recreational boating and fishing, further restrictions put in place June 1 severely restrict travel on border waters between the two countries. In New York State, that would mean travel on the Niagara River, border areas of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

Currently, U.S. anglers are banned from fishing in Canadian waters and boaters aren’t supposed to cross the international boundary on the waterways, with minor exceptions. Those caught violating the restrictions face stiff fines (ranging from $275 to $1,000) and possible confiscation of one’s boat.

Late last month, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced it was increasing its land and marine patrols along the international border in an effort to secure the Canada-US border and deter any smuggling activity.

“Members work to identify, interdict and stop the flow of illegal persons, drugs, guns and other commodities across the border. They also ensure that boaters are complying with any border restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police act as customs officials at unofficial points of entry. Sgt. Penny Hermann, a RCMP spokesperson, confirmed that “Innocent passage” for recreational boaters is allowed.

According to the source from the Canada Border Services Agency “foreign national recreational boaters” are allowed to travel through Canadian waters is if they’re traveling in “a continuous, and most direct and reasonable route possible” from one U.S. destination to another. No stopping on the Canadian side is allowed.

“More than 110,000 people have died of the coronavirus in the United States, one of the world’s worst-hit nations. Canada reported 7,835 deaths, and 96,244 coronavirus cases on June 9,” Reuters said.

A spokeswoman for Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who has overall responsibility for ties with the United States, said “both sides agreed the (travel) ban had worked well,” Reuters added.

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News reports: Non-essential travel restrictions between U.S./Canada expected beyond June 21 - newyorkupstate.com
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