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I sure hope wiser people take charge and open the border soon.

The US is currently winding down on vaccination so I’m thinking Canada must be getting done soon? If Canada is not fully vaccinated soon why not?? Canada is our ally and could easily get vaccines from the US if truly wanted.

I had 2 hunts indefinitely postponed in BC. Pretty sure Summer sheep won’t happen.... still hoping Fall moose could but not holding my breath.

The US land border has been closed to non-essential travel the entire time (and still is). The agreement is a joint agreement, and as a result several thousand Canadians havent been able to travel across to the USA (without flying) as well. Its been hard on both countries, but to say that the US border is open and has been the whole time is a bit of a misnomer.

That said I certainly won’t be booking any hunts or travel expecting to go this year. Feel bad for the guys who already have stuff booked though. All my stuff is in the US this year.

—Jim

Yeah maybe 100 years ago when people rode horses and wagons closing the land border was a big deal, but with commercial flight the US is WIDE open to Canadians!

While Canada is CLOSED to "non-essential" US citizens which is like 99.9%

Look, I hate the restrictions. But finger pointing at one country saying 'its their fault' is a bit weird. Both countries have made restrictions that have affected travelers on both sides of the border. Both countries are STILL making those restrictions. Its affecting Canadians and Americans....ALL OF US. I hate what both countries are doing, but I'm also not ignorant to the fact that its both countries restricting people for the past 14 months. Arguing semantics of why its one countries fault when its happening both ways seems foolish to me is all. And on that, I'll leave ya to it man.

Go to the Mohawk reserve and take a short boat ride. Their preferred payment is handguns for the Toronto area gangs.

Walk across with a battered suitcase, no ID of any kind, no English language skills and a friendly RCMP member will carry your bag for you to your all inclusive hotel. Your free to go after that. Might as well get some free health and dental work done while your here too.

Some talk of needing proof of having been vaccinated, but nothing concrete so it may be just talk. On the negative side - the politicians tell us to be cautious because things could change.

But I’m not holding my breath. : (

remember back in march of last year it seemed like this would be a 30 day thing. not 430 days.

Ford is reopening the Province June 14 for the first phase. Will take 21 days before the next phase starts. Then the 3rd and finally the fourth. September opening is questionable.

But, as Charlie says, pressure from the USA will hopefully be our saviour. Freedom loving Americans who refuse to be controlled will be our greatest ally! The powers that be want to keep free Americans from being in Canada and seeing how screwed up, locked down we still are. It’s crazy here, very, very bad. And they don’t want Canadians travelling to the USA and seeing thousands of unmasked, normal people together cheering in stadiums. And along with it, in Texas for example, no uptick in Virus deaths or cases.

In Canada we can’t legally visit our own family in their home. My kids can’t legally go over to a friends house. In Quebec you can’t be outside past 8 pm without a valid, narrowly defined legal reason. Six people can’t sit on someone’s outside patio together. Mask mandates all over Canada. No more than 15 people are allowed in a church, no matter how big it is, yet Costco is limited by a % capacity restriction. China doesn’t like churches either but China likes the money capitalism brings to them and no one sells cheap China made crap like Costco or Walmart! There are strict travel restrictions within provinces. Forced prison like, “hotel” quarantines. It’s nuts, and most of it is in blatant violation of our Canadian Constitution, our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. And most Canadians are ok with it! Most Americans wouldn’t be.

This summer though, heavy pressure from the USA may open Canada. Vaccines will be widely available with supply outstripping demand by far. Right now they are giving the “carrot” of a more normal summer if enough people get vaccinated, kindly encouraging people to get it done. Soon we will get the “stick” of severe restrictions to your life if you don’t get the vaccine and a 4th wave of Covid this fall is already planned, along with supply disruptions and hyper-inflation. BUT Canada can and should open up soon, before the fall, with help from Americans and non compliance of ridiculous laws by Canadians!!

Amen brother!

TORONTO -- Ontario has announced a three-step plan to reopen the province, starting with outdoor recreational amenities, as it gradually prepares to ease pandemic restrictions. As of May 22, outdoor recreational amenities – like golf courses and tennis courts – will be allowed to reopen, the government said. Outdoor limits for social gatherings and organized public events will be expanded on Saturday, which will allow these amenities to be used by up to five people. These amenities include driving ranges, soccer and other sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, and skate parks. No outdoor sports or recreational classes are permitted. "Today, we're seeing increasingly positive trends and key public health indicators," Premier Doug Ford said. "As a result, we're now in a position to look at a slow and measured reopening of the province, and working in lockstep with our public health officials." The government said step one of the three-tier plan will likely begin on the week of June 14. The Ford government said they will confirm the start date closer to that week. Detailed breakdown of what can open in each step of Ontario's plan The stay-at-home order will expire on June 2, but all non-essential businesses will still be forced to stay closed until the province enters step one. The province will remain in each step for at least 21 days to monitor the impacts on case numbers as restrictions are relaxed. Step one To enter this step, Ontario must wait at least two weeks after 60 per cent of adults have received one dose of the vaccine. According to Health Minister Christine Elliott, Ontario has reached 58 per cent to date. "It is possible we could reach the level of getting to stage one before June 14," Elliott said. "We are just giving that as an approximate date right now." The government said step one will focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds and where the risk of transmission is lower. Non-essential retail stores will be allowed to reopen with 15 per cent capacity. Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed. Outdoor dining, with up to four people per table, will also be allowed to resume. The first step will also allow restrictions to lift on camps, campgrounds and provincial parks, as well as outdoor pools and splash pads. Step two To enter this step, 70 per cent of adults need to be vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent vaccinated with two doses. The government said this step will allow for indoor gatherings of up to five people, along with outdoor gatherings of 25 people. Outdoor sports and leagues can resume, along with personal care services, where a face covering can be worn. soccer Indoor religious services can also resume at 15 per cent capacity. Essential retail restrictions will be eased, with essential retailers allowed 50 per cent capacity and non-essential 25 per cent. Outdoor amusement and water parks can also reopen. Outdoor cinemas, performing arts, live music, events and attractions can also being to operate again. Step three The final step would see life return mostly back to normal and will begin when 70 to 80 per cent of adults in Ontario have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 25 per cent have received both doses. In this stage, the province would see rules around indoor gatherings finally unravel. Larger indoor and outdoor gatherings will be allowed, though the province did not specify any numbers. dinner This step also includes a return to indoor sports and recreational fitness, indoor dining, museums, art galleries, libraries, and casinos. Indoor seated events can also resume.

In California, it was all about the science and the numbers...right up until our governor was subject to a recall election and then poof. All the most limiting restrictions were gone overnight before we reached the number dictated by the science.

Maybe if Trudeau feels that sort of pressure?

They really don’t want to deal with Americans at the border because this crap will hit the news in the USA and then Canada will be forced to stop it and open the border. I really mean it when I say the Freedom Loving Americans are going to be our saviours in this attempted takeover of our way of life in the new Chinada.

We have a bunch of dormers that play hockey with my son. Tonight was the first time in over a year that the parents came down for a lacrosse game. There was talk that if we would have won this game we would have to house the players since school is over and the boys would have to quarantine. Not sure what they are going to do know. As miffed as I am at our current administration we are lucky compared to you.

I don't know how you will survive this economically but wishing you all the best!

The Provincial park just North of us usually have their employees stay in a bunk house most years. This year they have to have separate quarters so they rented my cabins for the employees. 1 person per room. Helping us through this mess!!

A statement from the Premier’s Office said the current situation in Ontario is “exceeding the best-case scenario” in recent modelling, which indicated that the province would reach below 1,000 new daily infections by June 30.

The government previously said that they would likely enter Step 1 on June 14, but instead will begin the reopening at midnight on June 11

Ontario achieved the main target of vaccinating 60 per cent of the adult population with the initial dose on May 21, according to the Premier's Office, but needed to wait at least two weeks to allow recipients to build up a sufficient level of immunity.

As of June 6, 72 per cent of the 18 plus population in Ontario had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 10 million doses were administered.

The province has also seen a steady decline in new daily cases, 525 reported on Monday, and ICU occupancy has also decreased to 498 COVID-19 patients. The province said between May 25 and May 31, Ontario’s COVID-19 case rate dropped 35.1 per cent.

Step 1 allows for Ontario to relax restrictions that mainly involving outdoor activities.

Outdoor gathering limits will increase to 10 people, patios can reopen, and in-person shopping at non-essential retail is permitted with strict capacity limits.

Also, indoor religious services, including weddings and funerals, are permitted at 15 per cent capacity. Day camps will be allowed to operate, along with overnight camping grounds at provincial parks.

Alexander Panetta, Sophia Harris · CBC · Posted: Jun 07, 2021 6:16 PM ET | Last Updated: 9 hours ago

The Peace Bridge and the Canadian border are seen from Buffalo, N.Y., on April 22. Pressure is building on the U.S. side to get travel moving. (Lindsay DeDario/Reuters)

2773 comments Canadian officials are looking at a multi-phase approach to reopening the border that would begin with allowing fully vaccinated travellers to enter starting this summer.

The pace of Canada-U.S. discussions about reopening has intensified lately, as more people in both countries are vaccinated and as frustration grows on the American side over the continued border closure.

The broad themes of those conversations were described to CBC News by several border town mayors who have been consulted on the talks, and by one federal official.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed two key elements of the likely reopening plan in public remarks Monday: that the reopening will happen in stages and that the first travellers entering Canada will have to be fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada's relatively low COVID-19 case counts and high rate of vaccination will make the country an appealing destination for tourists. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) "We are looking at how we're going to start welcoming up tourists in a phased way as the numbers come down in Canada, as the numbers start to come down in the United States and elsewhere around the world," Trudeau said in remarks reported by The Canadian Press.

One example of a scenario being envisioned for a first phase would be to allow vaccinated travellers to avoid quarantine if they have a negative COVID test.

What's still being worked out

Several aspects of the reopening plan remain up in the air.

The first is the reopening date itself: Public Safety Minister Bill Blair told a group of border mayors in a meeting last month that it was uncertain whether the first phase could happen in late June, when the current border restrictions expire.

An official aware of the Canada-U.S. talks, who asked to remain anonymous, said he doubts a June reopening is likely and suggested July would be a likelier starting date for the first phase.

Other technical details still have to be worked out, such as the form proof of vaccination would take. The same official said that proof would require, at a minimum, a vaccination card and perhaps another form of evidence.

That leads to another significant possibility — an asymmetrical reopening of the Canada-U.S. border, with each country applying different rules.

Different countries, different rules?

Take proof of vaccination, for example — as with several other aspects of the pandemic, it's become a politically charged and partisan issue in the U.S.

Some Republican governors have passed laws preventing demands for proof of vaccination on their territory. President Joe Biden has said he will not create a federal vaccine passport.

The official familiar with the talks says there's a chance the countries might have different border standards regarding vaccination.

Life is increasingly returning to normal in the U.S., as seen by the full stands at the Indy 500 on May 30. Some American politicians say there's no reason to keep the border sealed. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters) The possibility of different rules came up in a consultation session late last month between Blair and Ontario border-town mayors.

One municipal mayor said she hopes the travel standards will be as simple and as similar as possible in both countries.

Bernadette Clement, mayor of Cornwall, Ont., said she hopes to avoid a patchwork that creates confusion and backlogs at the border.

Mayor at Blair meeting: 'I want a plan'

She said she told Blair that, above all else, and after 15 months of confusion for communities like hers, she wants to see a roadmap for reopening.

"I want a plan. I want to see a plan," she said in an interview.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair told border town mayors that talks were ramping up with the U.S. (Blair Gable/Reuters) "These conversations every month are exhausting. Some people will like the plan, some people will dislike the plan. But let's at least get a plan out there so that we can start talking with our own communities about something concrete ... Put in some timeline."

Another participant in the meeting said Blair left open the possibility of a late-June start to the reopening but was not definitive.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the minister said there were ongoing discussions with the U.S., including with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

American officials have denied reports that they plan to unilaterally reopen their side of the border on June 21 whether Canada agrees or not.

Americans increasingly annoyed

But it is clear that American politicians are increasingly annoyed with the slower approach preferred by Ottawa.

That growing frustration is bipartisan.

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer has called for a reopening. New York Democrat Brian Higgins says it's not right to allow travel for NHL players and not for people separated from their loved ones.

Canada will allow NHL players to travel during the playoffs under loosened quarantine rules. Some American politicians say it's unfair that others can't. (Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters) A senior Republican has accused the Trudeau government of foot-dragging. In a letter to Mayorkas, congresswoman Elise Stefanik dubbed the current measures logic-defying.

She called it unfair that Canadians can fly into the U.S. and get vaccinated, while fully vaccinated Americans who own homes in Canada can't even go see their homes.

Without a deal by June 21, she said, the U.S. should just start reopening alone and allow Canadians with property, boats and business interests to enter or use U.S. airports for overseas travel.

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie has blasted Canada's approach in different recent interviews on CNN and Fox News.

Hajdu says Canada will come up with 'certification' to allow COVID-clear Canadians to travel again Hundreds of travellers to Canada test positive for COVID-19 variants He called it "ridiculous" and "wrong" for Canadians to get vaccinated in the States and receive vaccine shipments from the U.S. while barring Americans from entering Canada.

"How about Prime Minister Trudeau, being a good neighbour and a good friend to us, opening up his border to people who are vaccinated?" Christie told CNN last month.

"It's wrong for him not to do it. And it sends the wrong signal for President Biden to sit by and allow that to happen is wrong, too."

He accused Biden of weakness in not publicly calling out Canada's refusal to relax travel rules.

Canada now has a higher percentage of its population with a single vaccine dose than does the U.S., but the share of the U.S. population that's fully vaccinated is nearly six times higher.

With 43 per cent of the total U.S. population and 53 per cent of American adults fully vaccinated, life has been returning to normal in the U.S., with workplaces, bars, restaurants, sporting events and concert halls increasingly full.

"In the weeks to come, we will have more to say about the measures that we could relax for people who have had two doses," Trudeau told a news conference. "Easing of restrictions will be focused on Canadians who are fully vaccinated."

This chart says in 2019 tourism contributes approx $39.72B (Canadian dollars) to the economy there. Another chart said that was approx 6.5% of Canada's GDP. It didn't say if that was in-house money or border money.

Great news for the outfitters and hunters as I’m sure there’s gonna be a fall season.

The link to the article in this post even says testing and quarantine will be RECOMMENDED for unvaccinated Canadians but it’s not legally required. They can’t overrule our Canadian charter of rights.

They may be able to impose vaccination rules for visiting Americans and that’s up to Americans how they want to handle that but we Canadians need to not comply with this crap or it will go on forever!

Ottawa approves NHL travel exemption for Stanley Cup playoffs

Ottawa approves NHL travel exemption for Stanley Cup playoffs

David Cochrane

2 days ago

Thousands gather to mourn the victims of anti-Muslim attack in London, Ont. Dollar teeters as inflation test looms a man skiing down a snow covered slope: Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price makes a save during a 1-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 2 of their playoff series on Friday. © Jason Halstead/Getty Images Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price makes a save during a 1-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 2 of their playoff series on Friday.

The federal government has approved a travel exemption for the final two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs that would allow NHL teams to cross the Canada-US border with a modified quarantine.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino issued a "national interest" exemption to the league that would allow cross-border travel under specific conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

NHL players and team personnel will enter and leave the country using private planes. Players and club personnel from the United States to Canada will be subject to pre- and post-arrival testing in addition to daily COVID-19 tests.

The players will have to live in a modified quarantine bubble that includes the team hotel and the arena. They will have to abide by rules that either severely limit or strictly forbid interaction with the public in both places. There will be no use of shared facilities and no contact with the general public

These rules are in addition to the other public health measures the NHL has imposed on teams for the duration of the season

"In addition to NHL's COVID Protocol, NHL players and personnel will have to abide by all local public health rules," Mendicino said in a statement.

"We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation on both sides of the border. We will not hesitate to take further public health measures where necessary." Marco Mendicino looking at the camera: Minister of Immigration Marco Mendicino, shown in June 2020, has issued a 'national interest' exemption to quarantine requirements for NHL teams for the final two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs. © Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press Minister of Immigration Marco Mendicino, shown in June 2020, has issued a 'national interest' exemption to quarantine requirements for NHL teams for the final two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The exemption allows the winner of the NHL's all-Canadian division and its U.S. opponent to cross the border without quarantine during the Stanley Cup semifinals and finals.

When TSN and The Canadian Press first reported the possibility of an exemption in late May, federal sources stressed that the health risk to the Canadian public was low. Vaccination rates are high among NHL players and the travelling parties that accompany teams. There will be frequent testing requirements of all players, and the teams will be forced to stay in a bubble between team hotels and the rinks when in Canada.

The Montreal Canadiens are currently leading the Winnipeg Jets 2-0 in the North Division final. The winner of that series will face one of three U.S. division winners in the league semifinals. The two semifinal winners will square off for the Stanley Cup.

The exemption would mark the first time regular cross-border travel occurs in the NHL during the pandemic. Last summer, the NHL concluded its season with hubs in Toronto and Edmonton, with all U.S. teams crossing the border just once before departing.

NHL personnel were granted a special dispensation before this year's trade deadline in April to serve only a seven-day quarantine. The federal government also issued an exemption to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for NHL players and team staff to return to Canada for training camp under "national interest grounds" in December.