A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
By Andy Gardner and Kaniehtonkie
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a news conference on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 in a news conference outside his home, that he spoke with President Trump earlier in the day. They have agreed that both countries will temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the border. It has also been announced that for the first time since the 9/11 attacks, the Canada-U.S. border will be closed to “non-essential” traffic.
“Travellers will no longer be permitted to cross the border for recreation and tourism,” Trudeau said.
Essential travel means trucks will continue to cross the border to deliver food, fuel and medicine preserving a critical supply chain between the two countries. Trudeau added essential workers like health-care professionals who live and work on opposite sides will also be permitted to cross.
When asked if Mohawks are still free to cross the border, Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services remarked he had personally raised it directly with the PM and his cabinet colleagues that they are working to ensure that this is the case.
Miller stated, “I can’t guarantee what the U.S. will do, but we will work with our U.S. counterparts.”
Government officials also say exemptions will remain in place to ensure Canadians who are now in the United States are able to return home.
“We will be denying entry to Canada to people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents,” Trudeau said, explaining that it is a measure to try and halt the spread of COVID-19 infections. “They are exceptional circumstances calling for exceptional measures.”
He said exemptions to the ban include, along with American citizens, “air crews, diplomats and immediate family of Canadian citizens.”
Americans entering Canada by land will be subjected to questions about their health.
“All travellers arriving in Canada are now subject to new, more broad-based questioning about their health,” Canada Border Services Agency said in a Monday, March 16 email. “CBSA officers not only query travellers on the state of their health, they are there to observe visible signs of illness and will refer any traveller who they suspect of being ill, regardless of how the traveller responded to the health screening question.”
Travelers who show symptoms of COVID-19 “are not permitted to board a public conveyance for onward travel (plane, bus, train, etc.), and are required to self-isolate for the next 14 days. They will also be required to fill out a PHAC Coronavirus form, which allows health authorities to monitor and track those who have been identified as a potential concern,” CBSA said.
Air operators in Canada will be required to do a basic health assessment of every traveler and bar any passengers who present symptoms of COVID-19 from getting on their airplanes.
“This means that anyone who has symptoms will not be able to come to Canada,” Trudeau said.
Starting Wednesday, March 18, Canada will divert most international flights to one of four airports so passengers can be screened for COVID-19.
“Anyone who has symptoms will not be able to come to Canada,” the Canadian PM said during the press conference.
The four airports are Toronto Pearson, Montreal Trudeau, Calgary International and Vancouver International.
The ban also does not affect commerce and trade air traffic, Trudeau said.
In a statement from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne they stated on March 18, 2020 at 12:05 p.m., “On Wednesday March 18, 2020 the Prime Minister of Canada and the President of the United States made announcements on new restrictions to their respective borders.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has been in contact with the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) and United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) and has been reassured that these new announcements will have no immediate impact to residents of Akwesasne.
The Governments of Canada and United States are asking that border crossings be limited to essential travel. We remind Akwesasne residents that proper identification is required. Residents crossing into Cornwall should use their Certificate of Indian Status (INAC) “status card” in order to cross without delay into Canada.
MCA will continue to update the community as the information is received.
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