US-Canada border restrictions extended until July 21

Coronavirus-era restrictions on travel across the U.S.-Canadian border will be extended until July 21, Canada’s public safety minister official announced Friday.

Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, said on Twitter “in coordination with the U.S., we are extending restrictions on non-essential international travel and with the United States until July 21st, 2021.”

“As we have said, the government is planning measures for fully vaccinated Canadians, Permanent Residents, and others who are currently permitted to enter Canada and will provide further details on Monday, June 21,” Blair said.

As we have said, the government is planning measures for fully vaccinated Canadians, Permanent Residents, and others who are currently permitted to enter Canada and will provide further details on Monday, June 21.

— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) June 18, 2021

The announcement comes days before the most recent extension is set to expire. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said last month that the restrictions would continue through June 21.

The restrictions were in place since March 2020, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, and repeatedly extended for months.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday that he hadn’t reached a deal with President Biden about lifting the border restrictions.

In a press conference on Friday, Trudeau acknowledged the frustrations that the extension has caused. 

“I get it, it’s frustrating to a whole bunch of people that just want to get back to normal,” he said. “But, it’s really important that we have from the very beginning to keep Canadians safe.

Trudeau said he wanted 75 percent of the Canadian population vaccinated with their first dose and at least 20 percent fully inoculated before lifting the travel restrictions.

Thus far, 65.4 percent of the Canadian population has received at least one dose and 16.5 percent is fully vaccinated.