Residents, businesses in Seaway towns hopeful Canada-U.S. land border will reopen soon
With negotiations ongoing to open the Canada-U.S. land border for travellers again, businesses on both sides of the border are hoping for good news in the days ahead.
In Riverwalk Park in downtown Prescott, you can see Ogdensburg, New York across the river, but that's as close as you can get.
Most residents out for a stroll in the park on Wednesday agree it's time to open up the nearby Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge in Johnstown.
"I think it's time," said one woman. "If you can show that you're vaccinated, you should be able to cross."
"I think we've done everything we can do to put ourselves in a position for that," said a man from inside his truck.
"We're social distancing, most people are getting their vaccinations, there's lots of good stuff going on and I think the fear and concerns are over," he added. "If everybody is doing what they are doing then I don't think there's any problem with the American folks coming back over."
Another man walking his dog agreed it shouldn't be a problem to reopen.
"There's a lot of cross-border traffic and we've been doing it for years. We shop on both sides of the border. We've missed it," he said.
"I'm sure there are a number of people in town who have relatives right in Ogdensburg and they are missing them too," he added.
Officials from both countries met on Tuesday to discuss border restrictions with the current rules in place set to expire on June 21.
No immediate action is expected, and it will likely be extended into July
Many businesses in New York State are ready to welcome back Canadians once again, after that state lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday, including wearing masks in commercial businesses and social settings.
"Currently, our staff is 100 per cent vaccinated, both first and second doses," said Lou Williams, owner of the Inn at Gran View. "We are pretty much open as normal. I still have some plexiglass up at the registration desk and our bar service. But otherwise, we're treating our guests as normal."
"We have a lot of Canadian clientele from Ottawa that loves to come down and spend the evening with us," Williams added. "They're all missed, so it will be very nice to get the border open."
Williams added the past year has been painful for his pocketbook at the restaurant.
"For the year, it took a 60 per cent hit," he said. "The hotel was not quite as aggressive as far as our decline in sales, but, you know, it was about 50 per cent."
"We're definitely moving in the proper direction," Williams said. "Tourism within New York State has increased. Families, children, you know, kayaking on our water's edge. We just launched kayaks and paddle boards, so that's been nice."
"I think it is only proper and we need to get our lives back to what a new normal would be," he added. "I personally feel that we're quite safe and we need to live our lives."
Just east in the small town of 10,000 people, owner of the Ogdensburg UPS Store Michael Lira can't wait to see his Canadian clients again.
"My business is affected greatly," said Lira. "I designed my business around the Canadian traffic and the need for the package service here in Ogdensburg for the people of Ottawa and the surrounding area."
Lira said normally more than 3,000 Canadians would stop in a month to pick up packages, ranging in size of a ring box to car parts.
"I'd love to see them come back," Lira said. "Everyone notices that the traffic's not here that's been here normally (over the past year)."
Businesses in Prescott, also ready to see their American friends.
"It would be nice to see some Americans tourism show up in Canada," said Kevin Bunce of Rorwarders Antiques. "Just having that foot traffic here again would be great. We've got the river here, we've got diving."
"I've talked to a few (Americans), but, of course, nobody can come over or vice versa," Bunce said, adding some antique collectors south of the border have asked about items in his shop.
"It's made life a little difficult but I know I have a few people wanting to come over." he said.
While the consensus is mostly a yes to reopening the land crossings, some think waiting a little longer is a good idea.
"I don't think it should reopen yet, no," said Prescott resident Tarah, out for an afternoon walk along the water. "I think it's too soon. The cases are just going down, I don't think it's time yet."
"If they're not reopening the schools, they shouldn't be reopening the bridge," she added.
Canadian officials say they are taking a cautious approach to lifting restrictions, with early July as a timeline for fully vaccinated citizens to be able to cross.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.