Officials in Minnesota stress they are feeling the effects of the year-long restrictions at the border.
Several business and community groups outlined the impacts during a roundtable discussion in International Falls this week.
Mike Roberts with Marvin Windows in Warroad says border communities have lost half their radius by the restrictions.
“That’s the major impact on Baudette, International Falls, all the other communities along that border, is half of the people, family, friends, literally community members, can not come across the border to do things they want to do.”
Some spoke of not being able to see their lodges or cabins in Canada yet still having to pay taxes on those properties.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski, also involved, saying improving vaccination rates will help.
“When Americans can show proof of vaccination and we have a good deal of our population, and all the vulnerable ones vaccinated, that then I think we’re probably going to be in a pretty good position.”
Powlowski says he sees light at the end of the tunnel, “I wouldn’t be to pessimistic about the opening. I think it will come in the not to distance future, but unfortunately we can’t say when. That’s my opinion.”
(With Files From Randy Thoms: Fort Frances)
