Canada-U.S. to extend border restrictions until Sept. 21

OTTAWA – Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border are being extended another 30 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two countries will continue their mutual ban on non-essential cross-border trips until at least Sept. 21.

Ahead of the formal announcement, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a tweet that officials would keep doing what’s necessary to keep communities safe.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to so-called “discretionary” travel like vacations and shopping trips since the pandemic took hold of the continent in mid-March.

The agreement, which has been renewed before, was set to expire Aug. 21.

The United States has been grappling with fresh COVID-19 outbreaks across the country in recent weeks.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2020.