Don’t Even Think About Crossing the Border Into Canada
Oh Canada, you temptress of the north with your one-stop-shop and fries with cheese, curd and sauce. There are so many beautiful spots here, from Prince Edward Island to Vancouver Island, and everything (well, most of the time) in between, making it a popular destination for American vacationers. And given that it was dubbed “The Summer of Road Trip”, and Canada can be reached by car, it is only logical that Americans will want to go up and see the crystal clear waters of Banff or the European town of Quebec.
The problem is, Canadians don’t want us there – and rightly so: we are still at the epicenter of a global pandemic . At the moment, in most cases, American tourists are prohibited from coming to Canada. And if you think you can get across the border, think again. According to the New York Times , some Canadians have taken matters into their own hands to protect their land from our germs, including vandalism on cars with American license plates. Let this be another warning: don’t try to illegally cross the border into Canada.
Be a good neighbor
Canada used to be the second most popular holiday destination for Americans after Mexico. But the border has been closed since March 31, making it difficult for many people to travel. However, there are people who simply could not stand aside.
By July 27, there were so many reports of intimidation caused by the standoff between Canadian residents and American tourists that the British Columbia prime minister held a press conference entitled “Be calm. Be kind. “Speaking about the damage caused to cars with license plates not only from the United States, but also from other Canadian provinces, he recommended to legal visitors:” I would advise, perhaps, to use public transport. I would advise them to change plates. I would advised them to go cycling. “
In short, obey the law and don’t try to cross the border into Canada. Don’t pretend that you somehow got lost in upstate New York or were driving to Alaska and just passing by. Not only is this a bad (and selfish) move from a public health standpoint (we’re still in a pandemic, after all), if you get caught you face a $ 750,000 fine or up to six months in prison. …
Updated to clarify why international travel is now highly regulated.