Flood of British Columbians head south as U.S. land border reopens

It’s a sight we haven’t seen in more than a year and a half, but early Monday morning, lineups at the Peace Arch Border Crossing were long as the U.S. land border finally reopened to fully vaccinated Canadians.

The relaxing of measures took place at midnight EST on Nov. 8 — which is 9 p.m. PST on Nov. 7. Just hours after the easing of travel rules, wait times rose to 40 minutes and longer as British Columbians loaded up their vehicles and drove south.

In Blaine, Washington, many locals awoke to the familiar sight of B.C. licence plates in their state, many of them spotted at gas stations.

The border into the US has been open here only five hours, and already the line stretches back to the Peace Arch.

In Blaine, I noticed an old sight — BC plates at Washington gas stations again. @CityNewsVAN will have full coverage all day + wait time updates every 10 minutes pic.twitter.com/4Gbeeuej2z

— Peter Wagner (@peterjontheair) November 8, 2021

“We haven’t sold anything yet, but we’ve had about 300 people ask to use the bathroom,” ‘Big Rick’ at the Speeway Express gas station in Blaine joked.

He’s hopeful the weeks and months ahead will see the return of more regular visits from his neighbours to the north, but with testing rules and a number of restrictions still in place for Canadians returning to Canada, that may take a little more time.

Michael Prosia, the acting director for the Canada Border Services Agency, reminds people that while regulations to enter the U.S. have changed, they have not here.

“For a Canadian returning home, you’re going to need your travel document, and individuals are going to need to make a digital submission using the ArriveCan mobile application,” he told Breakfast Television Monday.

“Individuals are going to have to submit their information in advance of travelling, which will contain health screening questions, they will upload their proof of vaccination, and they will need to do all of that in advance of arriving to the [Canadian] border, and then our officers here will have that information readily available when they return to expedite that crossing.”

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In addition to the aforementioned information, people coming into Canada — even by land — will need a negative COVID-19 PCR test, taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. While you can get a test in the U.S., prices vary, with some locations charging up to $200.

“If you’re doing a day trip heading into the U.S., you can have that test completed in Canada, as long as it’s within that 72-hour window,” Prosia added, noting rapid tests or antigen tests will not be accepted.

He says Canadians who do not meet these rules will be referred to Public Health Agency of Canada officials, who will follow up and determine whether fines or follow ups are necessary.

“Canadians will always have the right to enter Canada. They will enter Canada regardless, they won’t be sent back. But it will be up to the folks at Public Health to determine if there’s any type of recourse that’s going to be required from there,” Prosia explained.

The CBSA has been preparing for Nov. 8, he says, adding wait times and all other information is posted online.

Obstacles still present

For the past 20 years, Don Schmidt from Cloverdale has been heading down to El Centro in Southern California to escape the rain and Lower Mainland winters. It was no surprise that he was in his RV at the first opportunity on the quest for some warmer weather.

“Today’s a nice day,” he told CityNews. “We missed it. I’m looking forward to getting down there again.”

Aside from the sunnier days, Schmidt and his partner say they’re looking forward to seeing friends again, and meeting new ones.

The resumption of non-essential trips into the U.S. is welcome news for many cross-border travellers who have been kept from loved ones or even properties they own due to COVID-19 travel measures.

Even the NEXUS lane looks long this morning as vaccinated Canadians make their way to the US in Blaine. @RyanLmark will keep you up to date on the waits every 10 minutes on @CityNewsVAN

Plus @martinmacmahon is at the Peace Arch, hearing about why people are heading south. pic.twitter.com/XGHrevBB8L

— Peter Wagner (@peterjontheair) November 8, 2021

It’s a step in the right direction for Canadians, like Karen Johnson, who has close friends and own property south of the line.

“We almost didn’t believe it. We’ve been waiting for so long to have it open, we didn’t realize it would be two years since we’ve been down to our vacation spot,” she told CityNews.

“We’ve been going down there for probably four years ourselves. Our friends have been down there longer. It’s a great time, I mean, there’s a bunch of us that travel down there together. We were there almost every weekend when [the border] was open,” she said.

However, the costly PCR test, which is required upon entry to Canada, remains a barrier for her and her family.

“We don’t know when we’re going to go because the mandatory molecular testing is very expensive,” she said.

Her husband, Ed, is among the many people who hope Canada reconsiders its testing policy, as the U.S. has done for those entering the country by land.

“Hopefully that will be lifted, the testing on the way back. That’s kind of what we’re waiting for, definitely, a very big issue for us and our friends as well,” he said.

Families are also reminded that restrictions remain in place for children who re-enter Canada, despite the reopening of the land border.

While kids under 12 aren’t required to quarantine upon return to Canada, they will be restricted from taking part in a number of activities. For example, for 14 days after returning to this country, children will not be able to attend school, camp, or daycare, and also cannot attend a setting where they may have contact with vulnerable people.

Travel on crowded public transportation that does not ensure physical distancing and masking is also a no-go for two weeks for those under the age of 12.

-With files from Paul James and CityNews Calgary