Manitoba/Ontario border to reopen Wednesday
Manitobans looking to visit their Ontario cottages are getting the news they’ve been waiting for.
Border restrictions on people entering the province from the west are set to be lifted on Wednesday.
In a statement, Ontario Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said following the province’s transition to Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen, the health order regarding travel into Ontario from Manitoba and Quebec has not been extended.
“The order will expire at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at which time individuals will be able to enter Ontario via its interprovincial land and water borders. Those entering Ontario must continue to follow the public health measures in place in the province,” reads the statement.
The Ontario public health order, which was put in place on April 19, barred travellers from Manitoba and Quebec without a valid reason.
People could enter for work, medical care, transport of goods, and Indigenous treaty rights. Many cottage owners were out of luck.
Over the May long weekend, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) stopped and checked over 1,200 vehicles, resulting in 42 drivers being denied entry into the province.
More recently between the dates of June 5-7, 1,019 vehicles were stopped by police, with 12 vehicles forced to turn around.
In response to a CTV News request for information on the continued border restrictions Sunday, the OPP said, “The order relating to the closure of Ontario’s land and water borders with Manitoba and Quebec remains in place. We will communicate prior to its termination.”
Last week, the Manitoba government announced fully vaccinated people from other provinces can enter Manitoba without self-isolating.
Dr. Brent Roussin said enforcing the border rules and the self-isolation requirements have been a challenge in Manitoba during the pandemic.
“We’re one of the only western provinces that have that self-isolation requirement upon entry into Manitoba, with some exceptions,” he said.
Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Monday that nonessential travel is still discouraged and further relaxing of travel-related restrictions could be implemented in the near future.
“With the vaccine uptake coming, we’re looking hopefully in the near future to have less and less of these restrictions,” said Dr. Roussin.
In response to the border’s eventual reopening, opposition leader Wab Kinew said the current rules and messaging from the province on travel are too confusing.
“I would just like to see clarity, so Manitobans know, here are the rules in terms of potentially going to the cottage and here’s what’s expected of you,” said Kinew.
For businesses in Kenora, the border reopening right at the start of the summer couldn’t have come at a better time.
“A lot of our local businesses, they rely on our summer tourism,” said Tim Warkentin, board member on the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce.
“It generates a big chunk of their business and to our economy in Kenora,” he said, “We are a tourist town.”
Warkentin added that, if the border remained closed throughout the summer, it is very likely some businesses in Kenora would not make it through the season.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.