Topic: Border Service

Canadian border service agents issued a strike notice just days before the country was set to reopen to vaccinated Americans. However, because 90% of the 9,000 workers are classified as "essential," the impact on travel and trade is expected to be minimal. The strike is primarily focused on "toxic workplace culture" and contract protections rather than a full work stoppage.

Canada is implementing stricter border controls to prevent Americans from using the "Alaska loophole" to enter the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers heading to Alaska are now restricted to specific points of entry in British Columbia, including Abbotsford-Huntington and Kingsgate, and must display a hang tag on their rearview mirror. Violators face fines up to $750,000 and potential prison time, as seen in a recent case involving an American traveler in Alberta.