New Brunswick Border Reopens

The border between the Canadian province of New Brunswick and the US state of Maine has been closed since March 2020. However, there are signs that Canada is preparing to reopen. In June 2021, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs voiced encouragement that vaccinated Americans would be able to enter the province without quarantining on 1 July. This date was pushed back, and the border eventually reopened to vaccinated US citizens on 9 August 2021.

The border with Maine, USA, opened on 1 July 2021

The border between New Brunswick and Maine, USA, opened to vaccinated travellers on 1 July 2021. This was welcome news for many New Brunswick communities, who were preparing for a flow of tourists and family reunions.

New Brunswick's "Path to Green" plan allowed for the border to open once 75% of New Brunswickers aged 12 or older had received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 20% of residents aged 65 or older had received a second dose. While New Brunswick health zones remained at the "Yellow" alert level, hospitalizations were low.

The reopening of the border was expected to provide an economic boost to the tourism industry, with businesses on both sides of the border having been affected by the closure. However, there was still some confusion regarding the new rules, and it was not yet clear how long it would take for attractions to reopen to visitors from the US.

While the border with Maine opened on 1 July, the US border remained closed to Canadians, and Canadians were still subject to quarantine requirements if they travelled to the US.

Fully vaccinated US citizens could enter Canada from 9 August 2021

On August 9, 2021, the Canadian government announced that fully vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents could enter Canada without quarantining. This was welcome news for many New Brunswick communities, who were preparing for a flow of tourists and family. The decision came after months of criticism from US lawmakers, business groups, and travellers, who believed Canada was taking an overly cautious approach to lifting curbs. The US-Canada border had been closed to non-essential travel since March 2020, causing friends and family to be separated.

To be eligible for entry, fully vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents had to be asymptomatic and present a negative coronavirus molecular test taken within 72 hours of flight departure or arrival at a land crossing. They also had to upload proof in English, French, or a certified translation that they had received a full series of an authorized vaccine at least 14 days before departure to the Canadian government's ArriveCan app or website. They were also required to present an original copy.

The Canadian government also announced that from September 7, 2021, Canada's borders would be open to any fully vaccinated travellers who had completed the full course of vaccination with a government-accepted vaccine at least 14 days prior to entering Canada and who met specific entry requirements. This was part of the government's gradual and phased approach to easing border measures, which prioritized the health and safety of Canadians.

The border closure had a negative impact on businesses

The border closure between the US and Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on businesses. The shutdown, which lasted nearly a year and a half, prevented non-essential travel between the two countries. This included the border between the US state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick, which was closed for almost a year and a half.

The closure had a detrimental effect on businesses in both countries, particularly in border communities that rely heavily on cross-border trade and tourism. For instance, businesses in San Diego, California, lost an estimated $5.3 million on the day the border was closed, according to the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. The chamber's vice president of international business affairs noted that the impact was not limited to the day of the closure but also included a decrease in business and consumer confidence in the days that followed.

In New Brunswick, the border closure affected businesses that relied on American tourists and customers. For example, the Las Americas outlet mall in San Ysidro, California, which is usually frequented by customers from Tijuana, Mexico, saw a significant decrease in foot traffic after the border closure. The owners of a clothing boutique and a mobile phone kiosk located in the mall reported a decline in sales due to reduced customer traffic.

The automotive industry in both countries was also negatively impacted by the border closure. According to the Automotive Sector Research Center and the US-based Center for Automotive Research, a shutdown of commercial flows between the US and Mexico would disrupt the supply chain in the automotive industry within a week, affecting production facilities and jobs on both sides of the border.

The border closure also had a significant impact on the agriculture industry, with the daily loss of revenue totaling $1.7 billion due to the disruption of the export of agricultural goods between the two countries. This was particularly evident in Nogales, Arizona, where Mexican produce fills 100 distribution warehouses, demonstrating the interdependence of the two countries' agricultural sectors.

The reopening of the border was welcome news for New Brunswick communities

The New Brunswick communities of Forest City and Edmundston were particularly excited about the reopening. Forest City resident George Guimond expressed his relief at finally being able to reconnect with his American neighbours, some of whom own homes or cottages in the area and have been unable to visit for a year and a half. Edmundston Mayor Eric Marquis emphasised the close ties between Edmundston and its neighbouring community of Madawaska, Maine, stating that the reopening of the border would allow families who had been separated for so long to finally reunite.

The reopening was also expected to provide an economic boost to the tourism industry in New Brunswick. Mayor Arthur Slipp of Woodstock, New Brunswick, expressed his optimism about the social and economic benefits of the border reopening, as residents eagerly anticipated reconnecting with friends and family in the United States. Businesses on both sides of the border had been affected by the closure, and the reopening was hoped to bring much-needed relief.

While the reopening was welcome news, there were still some concerns about potential confusion regarding the differing travel restrictions between the United States and Canada. The Canadian government planned to allow fully vaccinated Americans to enter at land crossings starting August 9, while the US government extended current land border restrictions until August 21. This discrepancy was expected to cause misunderstandings, and communities were working to ensure residents were clear about who could cross and who could not.

The Canadian government required 75% of New Brunswickers aged 12+ to have received the first vaccine dose

The Canadian government's decision to open the New Brunswick border to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents on August 9, 2021, was welcomed by many New Brunswick communities. This easing of restrictions came as a relief to families and friends who had been separated during the U.S.-Canada border shutdown due to the pandemic.

However, the focus on getting 75% of New Brunswickers aged 12 and older vaccinated with at least one dose was a crucial aspect of the province's reopening strategy. Health Minister Dorothy Shephard emphasized this goal, stating:

> “We have the vaccine available to provide 75 per cent of New Brunswickers with their first dose by Monday. Once we reach that goal, we will be able to move to the first phase in our path toward the Green level. I encourage all New Brunswickers who have not yet been vaccinated to make an appointment at a pharmacy or regional health authority clinic or take advantage of a walk-in clinic if there’s one in your community."

This target was not met by the initial deadline, causing a delay in the first phase of the province's reopening plan. The plan's first phase would have allowed quarantine-free travel to New Brunswick from other Canadian provinces. The second stage, which would permit vaccinated Maine residents to enter without quarantine, required 75% of New Brunswickers aged 12 and older to have received their first dose and 20% of the population aged 65 and older to be fully vaccinated.

The Canadian government's requirement for a high vaccination rate among eligible New Brunswickers was a key determinant for the border reopening, demonstrating the importance of vaccination efforts in facilitating a return to pre-pandemic norms.

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