Trudeau suggests Canada-U.S. border will reopen when at least 75 per cent of Canadians are vaccinated.

Canada has extended the travel restrictions in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Travel continues to be restricted from all countries, including the U.S., through to June 21

The Canadian border closed for non-essential travel more than one year ago. For the first time since, an end to the travel restrictions is in sight.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on May 18, that the southern border with the U.S. may reopen once three quarters of Canadians are vaccinated.

“We’re all eager to get back to normal, but we know that before we get back to normal, cases need to be under control and over 75 per cent of people need to be vaccinated,” he said at a news conference.

According to the COVID-19 tracker website, developed by a University of Saskatchewan student, more than 46 per cent of Canadians have received their first dose of the vaccine.

Discussions underway to reopen Canada-U.S. border

The Canadian government began preliminary talks about reopening the Canada-U.S. border, according to Bloomberg.

Discussions are just getting started, and the reopening of the border is not yet imminent. It would depend on the number of COVID-19 cases in both countries, and the percentage of the population that is vaccinated.

Bloomberg reports the two countries may adopt a new system that allows vaccinated people to travel between Canada and the U.S. without having to get a COVID-19 test or quarantine for 14 days.