Advertisment: CRM House Ads » Collision Repair Magazine » Proud to be Canadian banner » Proud to be Canadian

Border Boost: Federal government considers exempting auto workers from U.S.-Canada border closure

borderclosure

Ottawa, Ontario — Officials on Parliament Hill are considering expanding the categories of essential workers allowed to travel across the Canada-U.S. border.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau told a parliamentary committee Thursday that could mean allowing technicians in the integrated auto industry to be considered essential workers for cross-border purposes.

“We are specifically talking about different groups that would be potentially considered to be essential workers, that have the need to cross the border for specific reasons,” Garneau said.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to people travelling for vacations and other non-essential visits since March 2020 to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Calls to open the Canada-U.S. border to more than just essential travel have been growing louder in both countries, as politicians and groups within the Canadian auto industry fret over the economic impact of the ongoing restrictions.

“This is good news. It’s important,” Flavio Volpe, head of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, said of the government’s decision to at least look at making a change. “We’ve been very vocal on this, it’s become a critical barrier to business continuity at this stage.”

Windsor, Ont., Mayor Drew Dilkens agrees. His city and the surrounding region is ripe with tool and die makers that serve the North American auto industry.

“[Workers] must be allowed to cross the border for essential business,” Dilkens said in a tweet. “Windsor’s advanced manufacturing sector is vital to our economy.”

Advertisment: Simplicity Car Care » Simplicity - Order 6222 » Simplicity Featured Rect July 2025 » Simplicity Featured Rect July 2025
Page 1 of 1657
Next Page
Advertisment: Arslan Automotive » Arslan Automotive - Order 6232 » Arslan featured rect July 2025 » Arslan featured rect July 2025
Advertisment: CRM House Ads » CRM House Ads 2025 » CRM House Ads General » Unlock The Latest Innovations