It was a busy first day for Canada Border Services Agency officers in Fort Frances.
Hundreds of American travellers were processed on the first day of border restrictions being relaxed.
Regional Director General for Northern Ontario, Shawn Hoag, says it was somewhat expected.
“We expected there to be this pent-up demand. How big it was going to be, I think it’s something that we weren’t sure of it, but certainly from what we saw when people started to line up in International Falls, it was clear that there’s a lot of excitement,” says Hoag.
Hoag says additional resources were brought in to assist with the added workload.
It was the new reporting requirements that were the reason behind the line to the Fort Frances border moving as slow as it did.
Americans need to get a COVID test 72 hours in advance, show proof of vaccination and download information to the ArriveCan app before they are permitted to pass through.
Hoag says it has to be complete before arriving.”Our officers had very little discretion. Those who don’t have it done may find themselves directed back to the U.S. That’s not to say that as soon as you’re back in the U.S., you can update all of your information and make sure that you comply and then come back.”
Hoag says officers are checking that each person crossing has complied with the public health requirements.
Hoag says the need to verify travellers’ COVID Information is the reason for longer processing times.HUN
