Canada’s border crossing chief says non-essential travel that crosses the U.S. border will continue to be restricted but the U.S. has not yet announced if it will extend the restrictions as well.
Canadian Public Safety Minister Bill Blair on Aug. 14 issued a statement that the Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel for at least another month amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Jason Givens with U.S. Customs and Border Protection says he cannot confirm that the U.S. will continue the extension until notification is published in the Federal Registry.
Givens did say it’s likely reduced hours of operation at border ports of entry between the two nations will be extended since they’re based on low traffic volume due to the travel restrictions.
Currently the reduced hours of operation at 6 ports of entry between Montana and Canada will continue until Aug. 20. The Montana ports impacted are Raymond, Opheim, Morgan, Turner, Del Bonita, and Piegan and Porthill in Idaho.
The port of Wild Horse north of Havre continues its winter hours, seven days a week. And the seasonal port of Chief Mountain between Glacier National Park and Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park remains closed due to current travel restrictions.
The land border restrictions aimed at curbing spread of the novel coronavirus were first announced in March and have been renewed monthly by both countries.
