The Canadian government’s travel and tourism website is providing conflicting information on whether Americans fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can drive over the border for vacations starting Aug. 9.
The website echoes an earlier announcement from the Government of Canada saying the border will be open to vaccinated American tourists.
It says effective Aug. 9, “American citizens and permanent residents of the United States, who currently reside in the United States, who meet specific criteria to qualify as fully vaccinated,” can enter the country.
But a questionnaire on the same page tells Americans without Covid symptoms who plan to enter Canada from the United States for “visits, weddings, leisure, visit or upkeep of property, fishing, or other optional reasons” are told “you will not be allowed to enter Canada, even if you have tested negative for Covid-19 or have received a Covid-19 vaccine.”
The questionnaire site says it was last modified May 17, so it is possible that the site merely needs to be brought up to date.
But the confusion is enough to make Dennis Boggs of Brookfield wonder whether he will be able to take the vacation he has been looking forward to.
Boggs was planning to drive to Nova Scotia in August, crossing from Maine into New Brunswick, a seven-hour drive from Brookfield and a long drive to the border to find out it is still closed.
Boggs said he had looked at the site because U.S. officials have announced that, for now, they will not be reopening the border to land crossings.
“It was unclear whether we would actually be allowed back in the United States,” Boggs said in a telephone interview with VTDigger. The Canadian site “seems to be suggesting that the border is actually not open yet. If we’re not welcome yet, then it really seems to me that the public doesn’t know this.”
Boggs said he still wants to go to Novia Scotia, but added: “The more confusing it is, you more you feel let’s wait a while until the dust settles.”
A spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada explains it this way: “The questionnaire you are referring to is taking into account the measures currently in place.”
— Fred Thys
