Re-Unite Long Distance Couples Across the Canada US Border
Re-Unite Long Distance Couples Across the Canada US Border
The Issue
“The last time I saw you was February 27th. If I had known that would have been the last time I would get to see you for the last five months and fifteen days (update: six months and 21 days now), I would have held on a bit tighter and never let go.”
The Canada-US Border has been closed since March 21st at midnight. Due to COVID-19, unless it is for essential travel, you cannot travel between the two countries by either plane or car (update: it has been made known that the only option right now is for Canadians to fly into America - which is not the most cost effective option for people and when compared to driving, exposes people to others putting them at risk). As of June 9th, 2020, border restrictions loosened enough to allow for immediate family members such as spouses, dependent children, and guardians to cross the border to see their loved ones. This is good progress but more can be done to allow for re-unification of others in important relationships.
Couples who are engaged, couples who are long-term partners, etc. are being discriminated against in terms of being counted as a reason for essential travel. Unfortunately, our society does not count you as a “real” couple unless you are married or common law. Non-married couples are still couples, our love is real, and when we are separated without a clear end in sight, our pain is real as well. In times of a pandemic, love is essential.
My boyfriend lives in Canada and I live in America. Usually, we visit each other monthly and have kept this tradition of taking turns to see each other for over a year now. Our last visit with one another was on February 27th, we were planning our next visit when we received the news the border was closing in March. We contemplated trying to squeeze in one last visit before that happened, but decided it would be the responsible choice to wait it out and see how things played out. Five months have now passed, with the border closure being extended in 30-day increments, with no true answers on when the border will be re-opened. As a nurse, I understand how important it is to keep both nations safe and healthy. I have seen first-hand how the pandemic has mercilessly sweeped through and hurt the ones closest to us. However, there are safe ways to ease restrictions while keeping our safety in the forefront of our minds.
With proper paperwork and screening (such as other countries/states/provinces have done), travel can be safely done. Examples of this can include the below and may be modified as needed (this is not an exhaustive list and not all of the ideas have to be implemented):
- Test both individuals, or just the one traveling prior to departure. If negative, allow for travel (if deemed necessary, this can be combined with a mandatory two week quarantine)
- Recognize a letter or sworn statement from an individual as proof of the relationship (ex. every-time I have crossed the border, I have always listed my “reason for travel” as seeing my boyfriend. This has been thoroughly documented)
- Allow for travel by car. It is safer to travel by car, by yourself, with limited stops instead of traveling in an airplane with multiple people. As COVID cases decrease, airplane travel between borders can be re-evaluated. (update: since Canadians can currently travel to the US via plane, it only makes sense to allow driving as an option since this is a much safer option by comparison).
- Allow travel between states with controlled or limited disease spread and Canada. For example, Connecticut has been a leader in the nation in terms of managing the spread of COVID. Our positivity rate has only been 0.6% to 1.4%. Other states can be slowly added to the “safe to travel to” list as COVID cases decrease.
Please sign this petition to allow people such as my boyfriend and I to safely visit each other. Non-married couples should be exempt from the current travel restrictions and be included as one of the reasons for essential travel. To clarify, this is not a petition to open for recreational/tourist use but to simply loosen restrictions for those who qualify. Other countries such as Denmark have successfully and safely been able to implement the "sweetheart exemption".
See links below:
https://globalnews.ca/news/7105559/long-distance-relationships-coronavirus-pandemic/
https://dk.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/covid-19-information/
762
The Issue
“The last time I saw you was February 27th. If I had known that would have been the last time I would get to see you for the last five months and fifteen days (update: six months and 21 days now), I would have held on a bit tighter and never let go.”
The Canada-US Border has been closed since March 21st at midnight. Due to COVID-19, unless it is for essential travel, you cannot travel between the two countries by either plane or car (update: it has been made known that the only option right now is for Canadians to fly into America - which is not the most cost effective option for people and when compared to driving, exposes people to others putting them at risk). As of June 9th, 2020, border restrictions loosened enough to allow for immediate family members such as spouses, dependent children, and guardians to cross the border to see their loved ones. This is good progress but more can be done to allow for re-unification of others in important relationships.
Couples who are engaged, couples who are long-term partners, etc. are being discriminated against in terms of being counted as a reason for essential travel. Unfortunately, our society does not count you as a “real” couple unless you are married or common law. Non-married couples are still couples, our love is real, and when we are separated without a clear end in sight, our pain is real as well. In times of a pandemic, love is essential.
My boyfriend lives in Canada and I live in America. Usually, we visit each other monthly and have kept this tradition of taking turns to see each other for over a year now. Our last visit with one another was on February 27th, we were planning our next visit when we received the news the border was closing in March. We contemplated trying to squeeze in one last visit before that happened, but decided it would be the responsible choice to wait it out and see how things played out. Five months have now passed, with the border closure being extended in 30-day increments, with no true answers on when the border will be re-opened. As a nurse, I understand how important it is to keep both nations safe and healthy. I have seen first-hand how the pandemic has mercilessly sweeped through and hurt the ones closest to us. However, there are safe ways to ease restrictions while keeping our safety in the forefront of our minds.
With proper paperwork and screening (such as other countries/states/provinces have done), travel can be safely done. Examples of this can include the below and may be modified as needed (this is not an exhaustive list and not all of the ideas have to be implemented):
- Test both individuals, or just the one traveling prior to departure. If negative, allow for travel (if deemed necessary, this can be combined with a mandatory two week quarantine)
- Recognize a letter or sworn statement from an individual as proof of the relationship (ex. every-time I have crossed the border, I have always listed my “reason for travel” as seeing my boyfriend. This has been thoroughly documented)
- Allow for travel by car. It is safer to travel by car, by yourself, with limited stops instead of traveling in an airplane with multiple people. As COVID cases decrease, airplane travel between borders can be re-evaluated. (update: since Canadians can currently travel to the US via plane, it only makes sense to allow driving as an option since this is a much safer option by comparison).
- Allow travel between states with controlled or limited disease spread and Canada. For example, Connecticut has been a leader in the nation in terms of managing the spread of COVID. Our positivity rate has only been 0.6% to 1.4%. Other states can be slowly added to the “safe to travel to” list as COVID cases decrease.
Please sign this petition to allow people such as my boyfriend and I to safely visit each other. Non-married couples should be exempt from the current travel restrictions and be included as one of the reasons for essential travel. To clarify, this is not a petition to open for recreational/tourist use but to simply loosen restrictions for those who qualify. Other countries such as Denmark have successfully and safely been able to implement the "sweetheart exemption".
See links below:
https://globalnews.ca/news/7105559/long-distance-relationships-coronavirus-pandemic/
https://dk.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/covid-19-information/
762
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on August 11, 2020