The U.S.-Canada border will close for non-essential travel at midnight, March 20, to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today.
Trudeau stressed that the partial closure does not apply to cross-border trade.
“Trade and commerce will continue,” Trudeau said from outside his Ottawa home where he remains in self-isolation while his wife recovers from COVID-19.
The U.S. and Canada announced the closure on Wednesday, March 18. Officials on both sides of the border stated that the measures will not impact trucking.
The countries do an estimated $1.8 billion or C$2.7 billion in trade of goods and services daily. About 5.4 million trucks crossed the border in 2019, moving the bulk of the goods traveling between the two countries.
Stephen Webster
This will make it harder for nonprofits and other people to go down and bring back people that may be sick or injured. I would like to see a plan across Canada to look after all people in transport both in Canada and the U S. The Federal Government of Canada needs to make all Insurance companies directors face fines up to one million dollars for all delays in insurance claims including C 19 and the event of a person death by a delay by the insurance company or transport company a jail term up to 10 years. At the moment transport workers crossing the border are risking their lives and health.