POINT ROBERTS, Wash. – Residents and businesses of the beleaguered community of Point Roberts are happy that the border is reopening to Canadian travelers.
But Chamber of Commerce President Brian Calder says they’re worried Canadians won’t return after being kept out for 19 months.
“Are they going to come back? Are they going to be uncertain? Well, jeeze. You know what happened could happen again,” says Calder. “And what if it happens next year. So, lets sell the property and lets not put our boat back in the marina. That whole negative mindset doesn’t bode well for Point Roberts.”
Another unanswered question is whether the Canadian government will require its citizens who visit to be tested when they return home.
The Whatcom County exclave that’s surrounded by water and the border with Canada has been economically strangled by the border shutdown.
Most of Point Roberts’ businesses have closed as their revenue relied heavily on Canadian visitors.
You can listen to the full interview with Brian Calder on our Podcast page.