Border crossing restrictions about to loosen?

Hopefully this means I can plan a trip to Quetico for September. Hot damn, I really hope so.

I keep going back and forth on what to think. A month ago it was looking up for a fall opening, but now vaccination rates have stalled in the U.S and the new Delta variant is starting to creep into the picture.

It's just conjecture at this point, but I wouldn't be surprised if Canada will request a negative Covid test before and after crossing in addition to the two pokes. I'm fully vaccinated, but not sure I want to jump through those hoops. Starting to think I won't get north of the border till next spring.

I've been optimistic for a summer opening but now the spectre of the lambda variant gives me pause.

dschult2: "I keep going back and forth on what to think. A month ago it was looking up for a fall opening, but now vaccination rates have stalled in the U.S and the new Delta variant is starting to creep into the picture.

It's just conjecture at this point, but I wouldn't be surprised if Canada will request a negative Covid test before and after crossing in addition to the two pokes. I'm fully vaccinated, but not sure I want to jump through those hoops. Starting to think I won't get north of the border till next spring."

Hadn't thought of that as a possible requirement, but if that is what it takes I am completely down.

Not so sure.

Not for some time

billconner: "Not so sure.


Not for some time "

Unvaccinated being the key word here. The likely scenario is a staged reopening with proof of vaccination required.

"The next step we'll be looking at what measures we can allow for international travelers who are fully vaccinated," he said. "We will have more to say in the coming weeks."

Fingers crossed for good news in a few weeks.

billconner: "Not so sure.


Not for some time "

Fine by me. I'm fully vaccinated and I would love to be in the Q the last week of July!

If they open the border later in the season, I wonder if RABCs will be issued and southern entry ranger stations opened and staffed.

flaxman: "If they open the border later in the season, I wonder if RABCs will be issued and southern entry ranger stations opened and staffed. "

I am wondering the same thing. I suppose it depends on how late in the season it is.

I think that there is also the question of if the Canadian government would want to issue permits for Americans to cross the border sight unseen so early in a border re-opening process. I'm guessing not, especially if there end up being covid test requirements for vaccinated travelers.

I wonder what CA will accept as proof of vaccination.

billconner: "I wonder what CA will accept as proof of vaccination."

I am really curious too. I doubt they will accept the paper cards many of us were given. I have an official electronic one in my apple wallet from my health insurance company but how would Canada know it is legit? Let’s say they open only to the vaccinated next week, how quickly do they have a process for proof of vaccination? That might be part of the delay?

Currently they have a travel health declaration in place you can fill out online but I am not sure that included proving vaccination.

It looks like Canada will require proof of vaccination until a country (such as the US) has at least 70-80% population vaccination rate, minimal hospitalizations, and low case count…we are quite a long way from those requirements. It will be 2022 possible even longer before we meet their requirements is my guess…so they have too be working on a process for letting the vaccinated in right now…I hope.

T

I have a trip planned for mid August into the BWCA. My group would love to be in Quetico instead, so I called the Canadian Border Service Agency in Thunder Bay and talked with them about the possibility it might happen. They said "Don't plan on it". They seem unsure of what the RABC program will even look like if and when it does get going again. Who really knows though.

I hope the US gets its act together on providing an internationally accepted proof of vaccination document. Prime Minister Trudeau recently said the border will not open anytime soon to non-vaccinate travelers but left the door open to a decision to let vaccinated travelers in. It would be so frustrating for the border to be open to fully vaccinated travelers, be fully vaccinated, and still not be able to enter because you have no way of proving you are vaccinated.

LarryS48: "I hope the US gets its act together on providing an internationally accepted proof of vaccination document. Prime Minister Trudeau recently said the border will not open anytime soon to non-vaccinate travelers but left the door open to a decision to let vaccinated travelers in. It would be so frustrating for the border to be open to fully vaccinated travelers, be fully vaccinated, and still not be able to enter because you have no way of proving you are vaccinated. "

+1 that

billconner: "

LarryS48: "I hope the US gets its act together on providing an internationally accepted proof of vaccination document. Prime Minister Trudeau recently said the border will not open anytime soon to non-vaccinate travelers but left the door open to a decision to let vaccinated travelers in. It would be so frustrating for the border to be open to fully vaccinated travelers, be fully vaccinated, and still not be able to enter because you have no way of proving you are vaccinated. "

+1 that"

+2

So the "COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card" with the CDC Department of Health & Human Services logo isn't recognized nationally or internationally?

TZ

TrailZen: "So the "COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card" with the CDC Department of Health & Human Services logo isn't recognized nationally or internationally?


TZ"

I suppose every country can make their own decision on what to except. However, blank cards were available on the internet and they are easily copied. Also, sites were up with information on which batches were used when. So, faking a card would not be difficult. So, I suspect most countries will prefer something more secure. What exactly a more secure means of verifying it would look like, I don’t know. However, lots of countries including Canada are working on or have secure methods of doing this.

Here is an article a Canadian friend sent to me recently. The information seems to be consistent with what I have read in the Canadian press. How to cross the US-Canada border when it opens From my point of view, things are looking positive for a border more open to non-essential travel via cars and planes. As others have stated, remote entry points by water (such as Quetico) will prove to be more problematic for the near future.

I am not holding my breath. I have three more trips planned. However, I give myself a near zero percent chance of a Q trip this year. The other trips are set. The uncertainty of the border opening is still anyone's guess. Even if they announce the border will open it would seem the issues of setting up procedures for vaccination verification, border crossing, RABC, etc would take a while to firm up once an opening announcement is made. I would be more than surprised if PP or CB would be opened at all.
Much to my chagrin I expect to only be in the BW again this year.

MRH: "Here is an article a Canadian friend sent to me recently. The information seems to be consistent with what I have read in the Canadian press. How to cross the US-Canada border when it opens From my point of view, things are looking positive for a border more open to non-essential travel via cars and planes. As others have stated, remote entry points by water (such as Quetico) will prove to be more problematic for the near future."

The ArriveCan app (see the link in the above post) that Canadians can use to document that they have been vaccinated on their return to Canada is available for use by Americans who can legally cross the border. Right now Americans cannot legally cross the border for non-essential travel. However, the Canadian Border Service anticipates Americans will be able to use it once the border opens. Your information needs to be uploaded with the app within 72 hours of arrival in Canada. For now, this is a moot point since the border is still closed. However, it is good to know that Canada has a plan in mind for when the border does open. For those entering Canada from a car or a plane, this looks promising. For those planning on entering using a remote area border crossing permit, it is less clear if this will help. I’ve still got my plan from a year and a half ago that starts at Beaverhouse ready. Now the border needs to open. I am guessing that will happen when roughly 75% of Canadians are fully vaccinated assuming the Delta surge isn’t too big. Canada is over 45% fully vaccinated now and moving forward quickly. I think they will be to 75% in August. So, get fully vaccinated, keep your mask on and maybe, just maybe, things will be in a place that will allow the border to open before this paddling season ends.

The 72 hour requirement stymied me from testing it.

Now we are getting somewhere!

Border could be opening

If we could just get some rain now....

“ First Ministers also discussed how to continue safely adjusting border measures. The Prime Minister noted that, if our current positive path of vaccination rate and public health conditions continue, Canada would be in a position to welcome fully vaccinated travellers from all countries by early September. He noted the ongoing discussions with the United States on reopening plans, and indicated that we could expect to start allowing fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents into Canada as of mid-August for non-essential travel.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds 33rd call with premiers on COVID-19 response

Well, this could be the beginning of the border opening. There are a few things in the fine print to still be worked out.

1. Proof of vaccination. Hopefully the ArriveCan app (discussed above in this thread) will work for US citizens. Even better would be for the US and Canada to agree to provide their citizens with secure documentation of vaccination that each recognizes.
2. Vaccinations continue in Canada; likely. Vaccinations continue in the US.; questionable.
3. A major surge doesn’t happen. So far, Canada is holding off Delta but the US is starting to lose it.

I think the major factor in the decision will be the amount of protection Canadians have, and I see real progress there. I think that what happens in the US, while not irrelevant, to be a slightly less important factor. Unfortunately, progress in the US has become agonizingly slow recently.

I was truely optimistic but with large segment of people not getting shots and now the rise of covid again.
I could see Canada backing down.

Pinetree: "I was truely optimistic but with large segment of people not getting shots and now the rise of covid again.
I could see Canada backing down."

I've been thinking same.

First it is Covid.
Now it just might be fires that keep us out.
Hoping for the best

I've got a fall permit for BWCA, which would be my fourth necessary BWCA entry since Covid and if that is how it all washes out, I'm okay with it. I was excited, however, to read about a potential mid-August border opening. After some thought, yeah I really question the possibility of the RABC being available, and doubt it would work out. So I look at my list of planned future routes and I'm gonna go with a Beaverhouse entry this fall, if possible. My daughter and I are vaccinated. I'm actually pleased with the media spin on everything, that now, Covid is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. If Canada buys into this, we should be good! Quetico this fall and WCPP next spring!!