Sault Ste. Marie officials looking forward to border reopening
For the first time in more than a year, Sault Ste. Marie will be able to once again host its American neighbours - provided they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This comes after the federal government announced on Monday an easing of restrictions at the border.
The change will happen one minute after midnight on Aug. 9 and Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano said he is fully supportive of the federal government's requirements of American travellers.
"It's been very cautious about the health and safety of Canadians," Provenzano said. "I am comforted by the fact that to come across, a U.S. resident would need to be double vaccinated and would also need a negative COVID-19 screening."
He hopes the reopening of the border to American travellers will help the region's struggling tourism industry.
"Hopefully it will help the tourist season and our tourist operators," Provenzano said. "Hopefully it will help our economy a little bit. Hopefully, it will help some of the hotels and motels get some revenue back. There's been a lot of challenges, particularly on the tourism sector, and I think the government is looking to assist and support that as much as possible, but also try and keep Canadians safe at the same time."
Meantime, Rory Ring, president of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce said after losing half of the summer tourism season, he anticipates a rebound in the fall.
"Northern Ontario is famous for its fall colours and I think what we'll see is a tremendous uptick in travel to our area to have that experience," Ring said. "We think that with that flowing right into our winter season will help a lot of our winter sport tourism."
Provenzano points out that residents of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., may be disappointed that there is no plan in place as of now to allow Canadians to cross the border. He said it's up to them to raise the issue with their government.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.