New Brunswick Border: Open Or Closed?

The status of the New Brunswick border has been a point of discussion in recent years, with changes in restrictions and requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, Nova Scotia tightened border controls with New Brunswick due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, requiring travellers from the province to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. However, by December 2020, the border between the two provinces was described as wide open by a union representative, who claimed that officers were not collecting information from those entering Nova Scotia. In April 2024, New Brunswick set up COVID-19 checkpoints at the Maine border to boost enforcement of travel rules, with Public Safety officers stopping cars after federal customs screening. The province has stated that travellers must have an essential reason for entering and have registered their travel, with fines for non-compliance. New Brunswick's premier has indicated that the province is targeting a 70% vaccination rate before opening its borders to the rest of Canada, which was projected to be in late summer or early fall of 2021.

New Brunswick border tightened due to COVID-19

The New Brunswick border has been tightened due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the province. Nova Scotia has announced new measures to limit the spread of the virus, including a 14-day self-isolation requirement for people entering from New Brunswick and a mandatory Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form. These measures are in addition to existing travel restrictions and are expected to be in place until the case numbers improve.

Border Controls

The Nova Scotia government has tightened border controls with New Brunswick due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Premier Stephen McNeil announced new measures on January 8, 2021, including a 14-day self-isolation requirement for people entering Nova Scotia from New Brunswick. This requirement came into effect on January 9 at 8 am.

Self-Isolation and Testing

According to the new measures, people entering Nova Scotia from New Brunswick must complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form before their arrival and self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. This also applies to Nova Scotians returning from New Brunswick, unless they are exempt from the order. Certain workers who cross the border for their jobs, such as daily commuters, are exempt from the self-isolation requirement. Permanent residents of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are also exempt if they drive straight through New Brunswick with minimal stops.

Impact on Travel and Tourism

The tightened border controls and travel restrictions have had a significant impact on travel and tourism in the region. The measures aim to limit non-essential travel and encourage people to follow public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The situation has created challenges for businesses, especially those in the tourism industry, that rely on visitors from outside the Atlantic provinces.

Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustments

The border controls and travel restrictions are subject to ongoing monitoring and adjustments based on the evolving COVID-19 situation. The Nova Scotia government has emphasised the importance of following public health measures and recommended that people avoid travelling unless necessary. The measures will remain in place until the case numbers show significant improvement, indicating a commitment to prioritising the health and safety of residents.

New Brunswick border with Nova Scotia was open in 2020

The border between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia was open in 2020, with both provinces allowing interprovincial travel. However, there were some COVID-19 restrictions in place. For example, residents of New Brunswick had to self-isolate upon arrival in Nova Scotia and complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form.

In March 2021, the border between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia was officially reopened, and remaining restrictions in parts of the Halifax Regional Municipality and surrounding communities were lifted. This meant that residents of New Brunswick no longer had to self-isolate upon arrival in Nova Scotia, and they didn't have to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form anymore.

The reopening of the border was a joint decision made by the premiers of both provinces, Tim Houston of Nova Scotia and Blaine Higgs of New Brunswick. They agreed that closing interprovincial and national borders was not a good move, especially since the Omicron variant was already present in Nova Scotia and spreading within the province.

The decision to reopen the border was also influenced by the desire to facilitate travel for businesses and families who frequently crossed the border. Premier Iain Rankin of Nova Scotia acknowledged this, stating that they "don't want to delay their return to normal travel routines."

It's worth noting that while the border between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia was open, each province had its own set of COVID-19 restrictions in place. For example, Nova Scotia maintained a general gathering limit of 10 people indoors and outdoors, while New Brunswick limited contacts to a steady group of 20. These restrictions were subject to change as the provinces continued to monitor the epidemiological situation.

New Brunswick targets 70% vaccination rate to open borders

New Brunswick is targeting a 70% vaccination rate before opening its borders to the rest of Canada. In a year-end interview with Global News, Premier Blaine Higgs stated that the province is looking to achieve a 70% vaccination ratio before lifting travel restrictions. This decision is dependent on the availability of vaccines, with Premier Higgs noting that other provinces reaching a similar vaccination rate will also be considered when deciding to lift travel restrictions.

According to Health Canada, the federal government aims to achieve a 40-50% vaccination rate by the end of June and 100% by the end of September. However, New Brunswick's goal of a 70% vaccination rate may not be reached until late summer or early fall, as stated by Silas Brown of Global News. This timeline could impact the province's tourism industry, particularly businesses that cater to out-of-province visitors.

Anna-Marie Weir, the owner of Road to Sea guided tours, expressed concern about the potential impact on her business. She stated that a third of her business comes from provinces outside Atlantic Canada, the US, and overseas. Weir's business received minimal bookings last summer, even after the Atlantic bubble opened, as her target market is international and outside the Atlantic provinces.

To support the tourism sector, the government offered a 20% tourism rebate for food and accommodations to encourage local support for tourism operators. Additionally, the Atlantic bubble, which allows travel within the four Atlantic provinces without isolation or testing, may be fully restored sooner than anticipated, according to Premier Higgs.

As of March 2024, New Brunswick had only achieved a 70.3% vaccination rate with the first dose, falling short of its goal to lift restrictions. Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jennifer Russell, emphasized the need for a 75% vaccination rate among eligible New Brunswickers to limit the impact of future COVID-19 outbreaks and prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths.

COVID-19 checkpoints at the Maine-New Brunswick border

In March 2020, New Brunswick set up COVID-19 checkpoints at its provincial borders with Quebec, Nova Scotia, and P.E.I. to control the spread of COVID-19. Premier Blaine Higgs announced that unnecessary travel into the province was prohibited, and officers were authorised to turn people away. Anyone permitted to enter the province was ordered to self-isolate for 14 days.

In November 2020, New Brunswick set up COVID-19 checkpoints at the Maine border to boost enforcement of travel rules. Public Safety officers established checkpoints along the U.S. border, stopping cars after screening by the Canada Border Services Agency. Travellers entering New Brunswick from Maine faced screening from provincial officials in addition to federal border services. The U.S. land border had been closed since March to stop the spread of COVID-19, but several exemptions allowed for essential travel to continue into Canada.

Some people who travelled for work, such as daily commuters, were exempt from the 14-day self-isolation requirement. However, New Brunswick enforced stricter criteria at times, going beyond federal rules. Travellers entering the province were required to apply and receive approval through the New Brunswick travel registration program. The Department of Public Safety, which had been enforcing provincial travel restrictions since March, began conducting spot checks along the Maine border.

Coreen Enos, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, stated that peace officers and police officers could deny entry or issue fines of $240 plus fees if a traveller was not complying with the rules. Fines could reach $10,200 plus fees if an offence was brought to court. Enos emphasised that travellers coming into the province must have essential reasons and have registered their travel, receiving approval beforehand.

New Brunswick border restrictions impact tourism

New Brunswick's border restrictions have had a significant impact on tourism and travel within the region. In March 2021, Nova Scotia tightened border controls with New Brunswick due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, requiring travellers from the province to self-isolate for 14 days and complete a Safe Check-in form. This caused disruptions for border residents, with reports of long delays and inconsistent enforcement, particularly affecting essential workers who commute across the border daily.

The restrictions also prompted concerns about potential infringements on mobility rights, with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association challenging travel restrictions in neighbouring Newfoundland and Labrador and expressing concerns about data collection at New Brunswick's borders.

The impact of these restrictions on tourism became evident during the summer of 2020, when traffic was backed up for kilometres at the main border crossing between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. This led to concerns about the economic recovery of the region, as tourism is a significant contributor to the local economy.

However, the border restrictions were deemed necessary by provincial health authorities to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of residents. The measures were reviewed regularly by the New Brunswick government, in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, to ensure they were proportional to the public health risk.

By June 2021, as vaccination rates increased and case numbers improved, Nova Scotia announced the lifting of border restrictions with New Brunswick, allowing for unrestricted travel between the provinces. This decision was made with caution, balancing the need for public health protection while also recognizing the desire to restore freedom of movement and boost the tourism industry.

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