Whereas the communities of Cornwall and Massena, New York enjoy a close longstanding history that goes back centuries and includes many ties of friendship and family across the world’s longest undefended border; and
Whereas the nations of Canada and the United States enjoy bonds and alliances that include a shared history, supporting one another through challenging times, world wars, and the aftermath of 9/11, both here at home when hosting stranded American air travelers in September 2001, and abroad during the shared mission to Afghanistan that cost many Canadian lives; and
Whereas Canadian citizens have endured necessary hardships during the Covid-19 pandemic that have included extra difficulties locally due to the unprecedented extended closure of the land border between Canada and the United States; and
Whereas many local citizens have strong ties of friendship and family in the United States, thanks to the aforementioned history that has seen us look across the St. Lawrence River for over two hundred years at neighbours, not at the shores of a foreign nation; and
Whereas the United States government will be opening the land borders to Canadian travelers as of November 8, 2021, following the opening of our border to American travelers as of August 9, 2021; and
Whereas the Canadian government is continuing to insist that Canadian travelers to the United States pay for a costly and difficult to source molecular Covid-19 test in order to return home after crossing the land border; and
Whereas this test will make travel into the United States from Canada prohibitive due to its high cost and availability, especially for day travelers who make up the vast majority of local visitors using the Seaway International Bridge and the majority of all land travelers crossing between Canada and the United States; and
Whereas air travelers traveling between the United States and Canada are still allowed use of the much cheaper, more readily available antigen Covid-19 rapid test.
Therefore be it resolved that the Corporation of the City of Cornwall requests that the federal government remove the requirement for Canadian travelers to be tested for Covid-19 when using a land crossing into the United States after the November 8, 2021 reopening; and
That copies of this resolution be sent to the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada; the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness; Eric Duncan, MP for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry; the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry; the members of the Ontario Border Mayors' Committee (City of Cornwall, Town of Fort Erie, Town of Fort Frances, Town of Gananoque, Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, City of Niagara Falls, Town of Niagara on the Lake, Village of Point Edward, Town of Rainy River, City of Sarnia, City of Sault Ste Marie, City of Windsor); Senator Chuck Schumer, New York; Senator Kristen Gillibrand, New York; Representative Elise Stefanik, 21st Congressional District (Northern New York); Representative Brian Higgins, 26th Congressional District (Western New York); New York State Senator Patty Ritchie, 48th District (Northern New York), and the City of Massena, New York.