Canada Adjusts Border Testing Requirements for Vaccinated Travelers Following Push from Senator Collins
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins released a statement following today’s decision by the Canadian government to adjust its testing requirement for vaccinated travelers beginning November 30th. Under the updated policy, vaccinated Canadians who have spent less than 72 hours in the United States will not need to present a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning to Canada. Last week, Senator Collins joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to push for Canada to ease its testing requirement.
“Today’s announcement is another positive step toward reuniting communities that were harmed by the prolonged closure of the U.S.-Canada border,” said Senator Collins. “The reopening of the border to vaccinated individuals on November 8th was a cause for celebration, but the testing protocols imposed by Canada continued to be a barrier to crossings. I heard from Mainers about how this requirement created a significant inconvenience and financial burden for individuals traveling between our two nations, deterring Canadians from shopping at small businesses in our state and making it costly to visit family and friends.”
“I strongly urged the Canadian government to align its testing requirement with current U.S. policy,” Senator Collins continued. “Although today’s decision will make it easier and more seamless for vaccinated Americans and Canadians to travel across our northern border, it will continue to create an unnecessary obstacle to tourists and other Canadians who wish to visit the U.S. for an extended period. I continue to urge Canada to remove its testing requirement for vaccinated individuals.”
+++
On November 8th, Senator Collins released a statement heralding the official reopening of the U.S. and Canada land border to fully vaccinated Canadians.
The reopening followed efforts Senator Collins led to adjust or reevaluate restrictions on non-essential travel across the U.S.-Canada border. In October, she joined a group of six Senators in calling on the Biden Administration to provide the medical justifications for continued U.S.-Canada land border restrictions. In July, she joined the rest of the Maine Delegation in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, urging the Administration to take steps to allow fully-vaccinated Canadians to cross the U.S.-Canada border for business or leisure given current health conditions. In May, she participated in a call with U.S. Senators and Canadian members of Parliament to discuss the importance of reopening the border. Earlier this year, Senator Collins sent a letter urging Secretary Mayorkas to ease restrictions on U.S.-Canada travel and included copies of correspondence she had with both former President Trump and former Acting Secretary Chad Wolf advocating for limited border crossing exemptions based on localized risks.
###
