For about two more weeks Point Roberts will be the only U.S. border community near Metro Vancouver where you can buy cheaper gas and not worry about a negative COVID pre-arrival test to return home.
On April 1, all Canadian border crossings will have the same status after Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced Thursday morning, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to show a negative test of any kind at land crossings and airports.
The ArriveCan app is still required to be used for trips of any duration and travellers “may still be selected to undergo random testing, but will not need to quarantine while awaiting results,” said Duclos.
It’s these rules that are still not bringing customers back to pre-pandemic levels in Point Roberts according to Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce president Brian Calder.
Passport/Nexus and proof of vaccination must be uploaded into the ArriveCan app. A series of COVID-related health questions are also asked. This all can be done at home prior to your trip by adding the ArriveCan app to your smart phone or filling out the information on your computer.
While there certainly has been an uptick in traffic in the past few weeks as more Canadians understand Point Roberts’ special exemption as a remote border community, a level of hesitation remains, says Calder.
“The ArriveCan app remains a deterrent for many,” he said. “There are many that just don’t want to deal with it. Our parcel depots are still suffering a loss of business.”
The Canadian border rules are also hurting construction projects and trade workers and supply companies taking a pass at this time. Currently no U.S. or Canadian cement companies are wanting to make the trip down, he added.
“They are all fed up and they’re busy enough on their own, so we’ve got projects that have stopped here,” said Calder.
