I find it interesting that people in one country are trying to tell another country what to do regarding who they allow into their country. But what a recent Herald editorial does not mention is the logistical challenges that are involved (“Allow fully vaccinated to cross border,” The Herald, June 23).
Since many states and the U.S. federal government are shunning vaccine passports, and there is no central database for these vaccinations, how would Canada verify vaccine status?
In addition, even in Canada, vaccination records are held with the provinces and are not shared with the Canada Border Services Agency.
Starting July 5, Canadians who travel and return home, who are fully vaccinated, could be able to skip the 14-day quarantine, but that may not always be the case. The final decision rests with the border officer and public health, so people still need a quarantine plan. Canadians will have to able to upload their vaccination records, which will be checked manually. This is a labor intensive process.
There is also the testing that takes place. Currently when you fly or drive into Canada, you are given a covid test, paid for by the government. Why should the Canadian government pay for tourists to get these tests?
What is also not said in this editorial is that the four airports where flights from outside Canada can land, are technically at capacity due to testing requirements when you land. There would need to be a ramp up of resources to accommodate increased people entering Canada, which will take some time.
But this all stems from two things:
Canada is behind the U.S. in vaccinations because the U.S. would not allow U.S. produced vaccines to be shipped to Canada. It was not a lack of demand, it was a lack of supply. But also, this is what the Canadian people want, and shouldn’t the federal government reflect the people?
Canadians can still come to the U.S., they just have to fly down and be willing to quarantine upon return.
The U.S. and Mexico land border is closed to non-essential travel as well. I look forward to the editorial from The Herald that calls for that border to be opened up as well.
C. Vigen
Monroe
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