The Canadian border opened 2 weeks ago — how many people are taking advantage of it?

By David Rasbach The Bellingham Herald • August 26, 2021 1:30 am
Richard Read | Los Angeles Times, file photo Exit lanes from Point Roberts sit empty at the local Canadian border station, which was shut down to all but essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richard Read | Los Angeles Times, file photo Exit lanes from Point Roberts sit empty at the local Canadian border station, which was shut down to all but essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of noncommercial travelers crossing from the U.S. into Canada more than doubled in the first week after Canada opened its land borders and began allowing vaccinated Americans to enter for nonessential reasons earlier this month.

The rate for American travelers was even higher in the Pacific region, which includes Whatcom County’s five border crossings into British Columbia, according to new Canadian Border Services data released on Tuesday.

But all travel numbers remained well below pre-pandemic levels.

After nearly 17 months of restricting travel deemed nonessential in an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada began reopening the border, allowing Americans who are fully vaccinated and meet other requirements for entry to begin crossing the border for purposes, such as tourism, shopping and to see family and friends.

Between Aug. 9 and Aug. 15 there were a total of 332,581 highway travelers into Canada, the Canadian Border Services Agency reported. Of those, nearly two-thirds (218,732 travelers) were for noncommercial purposes.

A week earlier (Aug. 2-8), only 209,643 total border crossings and 103,344 noncommercial crossings were recorded by Canada Border Services Agency, meaning there was a 112% increase in noncommercial crossings in the first week after the border was reopened.

In the Pacific Region, 32,296 foreign nationals crossed into Canada Aug. 9-15, which was a 168% increase over the 12,038 foreign national travelers the week before.

But as impressive as that number is, it is still only about a quarter of the 126,862 foreign national travelers to cross into Canada through the Pacific Region during the equivalent week in 2019.

Nationally, the 218,732 noncommercial travelers were only about 15% of the 1.4 million that crossed during an equivalent week in 2019.

Though vaccinated Americans are allowed to cross into Canada, the U.S. has not reciprocated and opened its border for nonessential purposes. The U.S. announced on Aug. 21, that it was extending its closure another month until at least Sept. 21.

The Canada Border Services Agency on Tuesday also reported that it is resuming service at various small marine reporting sites, airports and ferry terminals in accordance with the country’s new public health measures that allow vaccinated Americans to cross into Canada.

As of Tuesday, the agency reported it opened British Columbia ferry terminals at the Washington State Ferry Terminal, as well as the Alaska State Ferry Terminal, Belleville Terminal and Blackball terminal.

As with crossing by land, vaccinated Americans must meet all requirements for entry into Canada through marine crossings and travelers must submit mandatory information, including digital proof of their vaccination, through the ArriveCAN app.