SAULT STE. MARIE -- With the combined total of positive and probable cases in Chippewa County, Mich., exceeding 350, Sault Ste. Marie's mayor is calling on the federal government to limit those who can freely cross the international border.

Council voted unanimously Monday night to have Mayor Christian Provenzano write a letter asking for a three-week pause on exemptions, particularly to non-essential travel.

"Coun. Gardi's motion recognizes that some things have to happen, but any discretionary items should be paused and people shouldn't be allowed to travel for non-essential purposes," said Provenzano. "I think considering what's going on right now in Chippewa County, it's a reasonable request."

The motion allows for the travel of critical goods and health care workers to continue crossing the border.

For other workers and students who may have to travel, Provenzano is asking for help in securing more quarantining space throughout the city.

"We've got no quarantine resources here, so if they're going to continue to allow people to travel, they should give Algoma Public Health additional quarantining resources so that we can support people that are allowed to travel," he said. "It's so that we can continue to enforce quarantine or maybe to support people who are quarantining in a congregate setting and get them to quarantine in an individual setting."

Sault Ste. Marie MP Terry Sheehan said he will ensure federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair will see the letter when he receives it.

Local solutions

"There is an opportunity to work with provincial and local health authorities to perhaps take a look at what's in that letter to see how a local solution could be implemented," Sheehan said.

He said as time progresses, more municipalities will take it upon themselves to deal with the situation locally.

In some cases, he's already seeing that happen.

"For example, in Ottawa, they've gone ahead and increased fines and penalties against those who do not adhere to their local rules, on top of the public safety guidelines that already exist," Sheehan said.

While he can't comment to specifics of the letter, since he's yet to see it, Sheehan said the resolution provides feedback on whether extending the U.S.-Canadian border shutdown is warranted.

"So certainly this is a reflection in my view that mayor and council want those measures to remain in place beyond Nov. 21," Sheehan said.