Sarnia's mayor and his Ontario border city colleagues want the ban on non-essential travel between Canada and the U.S. to continue until at least the new year.
Mike Bradley was one of about a dozen mayors who took part in a Zoom meeting Tuesday with Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair.
He said they're also calling for "staged reopenings" when the time comes.
"I do believe we all agree that the border will never be the same," said Bradley. "I think it's key to us that it be staggered over a period of time and not just open the borders like an Oklahoma land rush and anyone that wants to come over can come over. We still have a long way to go on COVID, even in this country if you look at the latest statistics. We were pleased that the minister was totally on board with us."
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley. September 2019.
Mayor Bradley said he expects there to be some changes announced soon on who can cross the border on "compassionate grounds" to visit an ill family member or attend a funeral.
There are currently no federal exemptions in place when it comes to a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The border has been closed to all but essential travel since the World Health Organization declared the global COVID-19 pandemic in March.
Essential travel is defined as healthcare workers crossing the border to work in the U.S. and trucks carrying goods.
All other travel, with few exceptions, is currently suspended until September 21.
Mayor Bradley expects minister Blair to extend the order by at least another month.
