Canada to keep border restrictions with U.S. for a 'significant' time, Trudeau says

By David Ljunggren

 

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference at the Rideau Cottage, as efforts continue to help slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 16, 2020. REUTERS/Blair Gable

 

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's border restrictions with the United States will remain in place "for a significant amount of time" as the two countries fight the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday.

 

Washington and Ottawa agreed last month to clamp down on non-essential travel while allowing trade to continue across their long shared frontier.

 

"As we move forward, there will be special thought given to this relationship. But at the same time we know that there is a significant amount of time, still, before we can talk about loosening such restrictions," Trudeau told a daily briefing.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday the two countries were "doing well," and added: "It will be one of the early borders to be released."

 

The two economies are highly integrated, and allowing trade to continue avoided major problems for the auto sector as well as transportation of food and medicine.

 

Although Trudeau's government has enjoyed good relations with the Trump administration over the past 18 months, tensions remain. Last month, Ottawa slammed a U.S. proposal to deploy troops along the border to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, prompting Washington to drop the plan.

 

A total of 1,193 people in Canada had died from the coronavirus by 7 p.m. (2300 GMT) on Thursday, data posted by the public health agency showed.

 

The total number of those diagnosed with the coronavirus climbed to 30,092.

 

Medical officials expect the death toll to be between 1,200 and 1,620 by next Tuesday, Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer, told a briefing.

She repeated comments she made on Wednesday about being cautiously optimistic the outbreak could be slowing down.

 

Once it ends, it could take the Canadian economy a couple of years to make up lost ground caused by shutdowns, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz said.

 

Ottawa has already announced more than C$110 billion ($78.3 billion) in direct spending on measures to help people and businesses deal with the economic damage.

 

Trudeau said Ottawa would expand loans to firms that paid between C$20,000 and C$1.5 million in total payroll in 2019, and planned to help commercial property owners cut or forgive rent to small businesses.

 

The West Coast province of British Columbia said it would reduce property taxes by 25% and allow municipalities greater flexibility in taking on debt.

 

($1 = 1.4044 Canadian dollars)

 

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; dditional reporting by Kelsey Johnson in Ottawa and Moira Warburton in Toronto; Editing by Paul Simao and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-17

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So Trudeau has discovered that borders are effective. 

Which part of Canad does he represent.?.Hes a strange PM, no one in Vancouver seems to listen to Him. He reminds me of a So Cal Cannabis Farmer, kinda glazed n weird.

What borders on stupidity? Canada and Mexico.

6 minutes ago, J Town said:

What borders on stupidity? 

this does.

 

The Trudeau government is giving part of an $828,046 grant to a lab in China for a coronavirus research project.

The lab receiving the money is the same lab that US intelligence sources believe is the source of the coronavirus outbreak, reports Rebel News.

On Canada's government website, they provide details on the research grant.

https://thepostmillennial.com/trudeau-government-wuhan-lab-virus

7 minutes ago, J Town said:

What borders on stupidity? Canada and Mexico.

Post of the year

1 minute ago, kwonitoy said:

Post of the year

Wish I could take the credit. It's apparently a joke floating around in Germany.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday the two countries were "doing well," and added: "It will be one of the early borders to be released."

And what is that presumption based on?

 

Any details given?

 

trump does realise, that along with opening up the states, he does not have the power to unilaterally make such a decision?

Edited April 17, 20206 yr by Bluespunk

2 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

And what is that presumption based on?

 

Any details given?

He opens his gaping maw, and even HE doesn't know what's gonna come out.

Most Canadians are still <deleted> it took so long to close the border. No way we want it opened until the American lunatic in charge has the pandemic under some kind of control. The American death rate from the virus is >3.5X our rate. Even right wing leaders like Ontario premier Doug Ford wants the Yanks kept out. 

 

https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/i-dont-want-them-in-ontario-ford-says-of-americans-until-pandemic-under-control

Canada built a virtual wall and US is paying for it. Trump owned again.

i would live anywhere with French influence, i blame them for the Nam War, treating the Vietnamese like Dogs.

11 hours ago, pineapple01 said:

Which part of Canad does he represent.?.Hes a strange PM, no one in Vancouver seems to listen to Him. He reminds me of a So Cal Cannabis Farmer, kinda glazed n weird.

Ha! Thanks for the laugn. Southern California pot farms. A choice post ...

10 hours ago, J Town said:

Wish I could take the credit. It's apparently a joke floating around in Germany.

Knowing the lack of thinking of far too many Americans, I have no doubt it will go over their heads.

7 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Knowing the lack of thinking of far too many Americans, I have no doubt it will go over their heads.

so how come they have achieved so much?

 

2 minutes ago, UbonThani said:

so how come they have achieved so much?

 

"...of far too many Americans". The advances were made by those with an education, not the Trumpettes who denigrate education. Look, I only wish for you to recognize I did not say all ...

49 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

"...of far too many Americans". The advances were made by those with an education, not the Trumpettes who denigrate education. Look, I only wish for you to recognize I did not say all ...

You didnt say it , but........i chucled.

Well they sure teach the majority of em how to be arty farty avoid hard work.

"U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday the two countries were "doing well," and added: "It will be one of the early borders to be released."

 

Trump got that half right. Canada is doing well. The USA on the other hand is getting progressively worse. 

Off-topic post and reply reported and removed.