USA’s worsening COVID-19 crisis has some Canadians barring the border door

The US congressman who wants a plan to ease travel restrictions at the Canada−US border is taking the ensuing backlash in stride.

Rep. Brian Higgins got an earful from Canadian Twitter users when he tweeted details of his bipartisan call on both countries to start talking about how best to begin reopening the border.

Higgins, a New York Democrat, says he doesn’t blame Canadians for wanting to keep Americans out, considering the failure of the Trump administration to contain the COVID−19 outbreak.

But he says the damaging border restrictions can be gradually eased without jeopardizing public health, and he and other members of Congress from northern border states will keep pressing their case.

A recent online poll by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found 86% of respondents in Canada opposed to letting US tourists north of the border, compared with 11% who supported it.

The current border restrictions are due to expire July 21, but the fresh surge in COVID−19 cases in the US makes it all but certain they will be extended before then.