Radio Rant: Open the Border July 21

There's no reason not to allow all fully-vaccinated travellers to enter Canada

This commentary first aired July 7, 2021 while guest hosting the Jerry Agar Show on CFRB NEWSTALK 1010, 610 CKTB and Newstalk 1290 CJBK.

Canada’s border with the USA is currently closed to all but essential travel under an order that expires on July 21. Yesterday, Justin Trudeau teased they may review this “in the coming days.”

Let me help with that.

On July 21, Canada’s borders – all of them – should reopen – to ANYONE WHO IS FULLY VACCINATED. Meaning two doses of any vaccine approved in Canada +14 days for it to become fully effective.

There is absolutely no reason not to do this.

There is no science – no data – no evidence – no wizardry – no magic – that argues against this. There are no goat entrails or chicken bones that our government leaders have consulted that say this is a bad idea.

BECAUSE – It’s a good idea.

As of this week, we now allow FULLY VACCINATED Canadians to cross the border in any direction – for any reason – without hotel jail – without quarantine. That makes sense. They pose no risk. That’s supported by all the evidence. So, Canadians this summer can take their money and travel outside the country to spend it somewhere else. Our loss. Somebody else’s gain.

But, even FULLY VACCINATED foreigners are still legally prohibited from ENTERING Canada to spend their money here. That’s our loss. And it’s a big one. The result of this policy will be another season of devastating losses for the 400,000 Ontario families who depend on tourism to make a living. 

We have to fix this. Fortunately, the fix is easy. And safe. And supported by science.

To add insult to injury – we currently allow ESSENTIAL TRAVELLERS to enter Canada WITHOUT QUARANTINE – even if they HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED. If we want to be smart – and consistent – and follow the science – we should STOP doing that.

On July 21, we should make the rules simple: ANYONE who is fully vaccinated should be allowed to cross any Canadian border without quarantine. AND ANYONE IS NOT fully vaccinated should NOT be allowed to enter Canada. Even if they’re “essential.”

LOOK – The only reason we allowed unvaccinated “essential travellers” into the country was because we had to. They were essential. And there were no vaccines. It still made sense when vaccines were hard to get. 

That’s not the case any longer. There are more than enough vaccines to go around. They are no longer hard to get.

Between now and July 21, there’s time for every “essential traveler” to get vaccinated – at least one dose. If they have to wait a few weeks to get their second dose plus two weeks for it to become fully effective – I say let them wait outside Canada. There are other “essential” travellers, I’m sure, who can take their place for a few weeks.

BUT, if it’s absolutely necessary, I guess we could allow 1-dose vaccinated essential travellers into Canada for another month after July 21 – But not after that. And ever – if they’re not vaccinated.

OK. I can already hear you screaming: THAT’S NOT FAIR! I’m not vaccinated.

Well, get vaccinated. It’s free. It’s not difficult.

I understand some people can’t take the vaccine because they have a medical condition. But, I don’t believe many of those people are “essential travellers.” 

So, I think they will have to wait until we’ve achieved sufficient immunity in the general population to protect them from us and us from them. But, there’s no reason to destroy 400,000 tourism jobs and the families who depend on them – just so we can all cross the border together. Hand in hand. Singing Kumbaya.

AND SOME PEOPLE will refuse to take the vaccine. I respect that. But, if your reason for refusing the vaccine is because you believe it’s too risky – that’s your call. I won’t argue it. But, if that’s the case – you definitely don’t want to be travelling.

In Ontario, according to public health data, NO ONE has died here from the vaccine. And your odds of experiencing a serious adverse effect from the COVID-19 vaccine are just 0.002%. I rounded up.

BUT YOUR CHANCE OF DYING from the virus – not just having an adverse effect, but actually dying from it – are still small at 0.077%. But that’s much higher than the risk from the vaccine. In fact YOU ARE 38 X more likely to die from COVID than you are to have a serious reaction to the vaccine. THOSE ARE FACTS.

So, I’m fine with you choosing not to take a vaccine. I really am. But if you think it’s too risky to get the shot – then you must be TERRIFIED of getting the virus. You should definitely not be travelling anywhere. You should stay home. In your basement. Building your bunker. And canning your preserves.

IN THE MEANTIME, open the borders. Let Ontarians go back to work in our tourism and trade industry which contributes $37 Billion to our economy each year and feeds 400,000 families. 

Prime Minister Trudeau – Premier Ford – do the right thing. Do the smart thing. Do the only thing that makes sense. OPEN THE BORDER to EVERYONE who is FULLY VACCINATED. Period. Do it July 21, when the current closure order expires.

And let’s enjoy a little freedom before our government grinds to a halt –30 days from now – to start a federal election.

Do you agree? Share your thoughts in the comments below.