Rent reduced for riders, early budget items approved by Regina Council
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Regina's city council covered a lot of ground in a three-hour meeting on Wednesday. With all members in attendance, coun...
When the news came out that the Canadian land border would be opening, even a crack, Kaylah Turner said she felt relief more than anything.
Turner is the mayor of North Portal, the Saskatchewan village set right at the border crossing into North Dakota. She said some businesses did alright during the 16 months the border has been closed to non-essential travel, but others like the duty-free shop really took a hit.
“Their sales are way down, they had to cut some hours for their staff.”
Turner said they’re looking forward to tourism returning.
“Back and forth across, and just helping out our people in town here who rely on their job and the border being open to be able to work,” said Turner.
The Gateway Cities Golf Course has been stuck in the middle of the closed border, literally. Turner explained that the nine holes are on the Canadian side but the clubhouse is on the American side.
“Obviously we have not been able to utilize the clubhouse. We have to have American staffing that run it, so because they can’t come over here – it’s kind of funny,” said Turner.
She said people can still golf. “We just kind of work on an honesty policy – we have a box where people can toss some cash into it and go and play their round of golf.”
Turner said there are also families happy the border will be partially open again in a matter of weeks.
“We have a lot of families, some live in North Portal, some live in Portal, North Dakota. So, you know, they’ve been split and they’re so close but so far away and don’t get to get together and see their family and their friends,” said Turner.
“We’re definitely excited to be able to get together with our loved ones from across the line again.”
On Monday, the Canadian government announced that, as of Aug. 9, Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 would be able to cross the border again for non-essential activities.
However, Canadians will have to wait a while longer to visit their neighbours – the U.S. government announced on Wednesday that it would be extending its ban on non-essential travel across the land borders from Canada and Mexico again until at least Aug. 21, 2021