WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that Senator King is urging President Joe Biden to allow fully vaccinated Canadians to drive across the U.S.-Canada border, as a logical extension of his newly-announced protocols for vaccinated international visitors traveling to the United States via plane. In his letter, Senator King highlights the logistical challenges presented by requiring Canadians to fly rather than drive – adding extensive travel time that can dissuade potential visitors and drive away customers for Maine businesses still reeling from the pandemic’s economic impacts. In the letter, Senator King highlights that Canada has already implemented these standards for American visitors driving across the border, and urges President Biden to reciprocate.

“On September 20, 2021, you announced a decision to ease restrictions for vaccinated international visitors arriving by air to the United States beginning in November of 2021,” wrote Senator King. “While I applaud this decision, which will strengthen our nation’s economy while protecting our people from the lingering threat of COVID-19, I urge you to also extend this logic to allow fully vaccinated Canadians who meet the same criteria to travel across the U.S.-Canada border by car.

“Canadians may fly to the U.S. under current regulations, but that is not usually practical for visits to Maine,” continued Senator King. “Given the rural nature of our state, Canadians cannot simply fly from any Canadian city to Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle, or even Bangor for that matter. Instead, a visitor wishing to go from neighboring Fredericton, New Brunswick, for example, to Presque Isle, Maine (less than a two hour drive) must first take a 3 hour flight (costing about $500) to Boston, and then drive six hours north to Presque Isle. This additional travel time places a wholly unnecessary burden on visitors, resulting in less family time for vaccinated Canadians visiting loved ones in Maine after more than a year apart. More likely, it will deter fully vaccinated Canadians from making the trip at all, further hurting our local economies and adding yet another challenge for local small businesses still reeling from the effects of the pandemic.

Since March 2020, travel across the two nations’ border has been severely restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in economic and cultural disruptions to Maine communities, businesses and families. In light of its progress in COVID-19 vaccinations in both countries, Canada opened its border to vaccinated Americans last month, but the U.S. government extended its ban on non-essential travel from Canada until October 21, 2021.  

Senator King has repeatedly advocated for vaccinated Canadians to be able to enter the United States and support Maine businesses. Last week, he joined a group of his Senate colleagues in a letter urging President Biden to open the border to vaccinated Canadians by October. In July, he joined with Maine’s Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, urging the Biden Administration to take steps to allow fully-vaccinated Canadians to cross the border for business or leisure.

Senator King’s full letter can be downloaded HERE or read below:

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Dear President Biden:

On September 20, 2021, you announced a decision to ease restrictions for vaccinated international visitors arriving by air to the United States beginning in November of 2021. While I applaud this decision, which will strengthen our nation’s economy while protecting our people from the lingering threat of COVID-19, I urge you to also extend this logic to allow fully vaccinated Canadians who meet the same criteria to travel across the U.S.-Canada border by car.

Canadians may fly to the U.S. under current regulations, but that is not usually practical for visits to Maine. Given the rural nature of our state, Canadians cannot simply fly from any Canadian city to Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle, or even Bangor for that matter. Instead, a visitor wishing to go from neighboring Fredericton, New Brunswick, for example, to Presque Isle, Maine (less than a two hour drive) must first take a 3 hour flight (costing about $500) to Boston, and then drive six hours north to Presque Isle. This additional travel time places a wholly unnecessary burden on visitors, resulting in less family time for vaccinated Canadians visiting loved ones in Maine after more than a year apart. More likely, it will deter fully vaccinated Canadians from making the trip at all, further hurting our local economies and adding yet another challenge for local small businesses still reeling from the effects of the pandemic.

I agree with you that we must keep Americans safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, especially with growing concerns of new variants. That is why I recommend implementing the same testing and vaccinations standards for Canadians wishing to cross our border that you outlined for international travelers flying here, especially since there is no practical difference between arriving by plane or car; the key either way is the vaccination. The Canadian government has already implemented these standards for Americans traveling to Canada, and your decision announced this week provides an excellent opportunity to reciprocate. 

I urge you to consider this request and reopen the U.S. border with Canada as soon as possible.