Crossing border petition started

Close to 500 people have signed a petition started by local resident John Beals asking that the list of essential reasons for traveling through B.C. to the mainland U.S. be expanded. The online petition (change.org/PointRobertsBorder) is addressed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Canadian Member of Parliament – Delta Carla Qualtrough and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The petition reads as follows:

The full-time residents of Point Roberts, Washington are a very special group regarding the containment of the coronavirus. At this time, there are no known cases of Covid-19 in any of the 1,314 full-time residents, and over 300 people have been tested. We request a special dispensation to traverse the 26 miles of Canadian roads to get to Blaine, Washington and the U.S. mainland, and back, without stopping in Canada, which creates virtually no health risk to Canadians. The only other option is to travel by air at $135 each way and available only once a week, or by private boat.

Point Roberts citizens cannot, for example, access dealer-based or specialty-based vehicle maintenance or tire repair, visit their second home on the mainland or in Point Roberts for repairs and maintenance, buy groceries and household goods not available in Point Roberts, apply for employment on the mainland or receive health care for their pets. Residents also request the ability to access services in Tsawwassen, as Point Robert citizens are not a health risk to Tsawwassen residents.

We, the undersigned, believe the reasons to traverse Canada to/from the U.S. mainland with zero stops in Canada should be included as essential activities for Point Roberts residents only.