congressman brian higgs, a democrat representing a district in buffalo, n.y., called ottawa’s border extension a “bulls**t” policy that flouts a clear-minded approach to foreign travel.
“it doesn’t follow the science, it doesn’t follow the facts, it doesn’t follow the data,” he said last month.
the trudeau government had earlier said it would relax restrictions after 75 per cent of canadians had received one dose of covid-19 vaccine and 20 per cent were fully vaccinated. canada achieved that threshold before the border closure was extended last month.
as recently as june 18, trudeau said that if that threshold was reached “
we can start loosening things up.
”
but last friday, the prime minister set a higher standard.
“we have to get up over 75 per cent fully vaccinated, up into the 80 per cent range fully vaccinated perhaps … if we’re going to be safe,” he said.
on saturday, ottawa updated the guidance in the canada gazette, the government’s official newspaper, saying “entry prohibitions, mandatory quarantine requirements, and testing protocols” would likely remain in place until 75 per cent of the population is vaccinated “with two doses.” the regulatory update said the measure was the “most effective means” of limiting the spread of covid-19, while acknowledging the border closures “place significant strain on the canadian economy.”