The headline has been loud: Joe Biden will disapprove the Keystone XL pipeline as one of his first acts as president, sometime after noon Eastern, when Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as the new president and vice president of the United States.
The Keystone XL pipeline decision will prove to be a minor footnote in the relationship between Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As we have noted, the Keystone XL pipeline isn't a good pipeline project for either country.
As for what Biden and Trudeau should work on, we have a few ideas.
The relationship should start with a Biden visit to Canada, hopefully in late winter or early spring. COVID-19 will make that difficult for so many reasons.
Katherine Brucker is the current acting U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Brucker took over for Richard M. Mills Jr., who was acting in that role from August 23, 2019 to November 9, 2020.
Given how many fires Biden needs to put out, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada isn't at the top of the list. Brucker will have a much easier job later today with the transition in power.
The Canada-U.S. relationship is at an all-time low. Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris can do a lot to get that relationship in much better shape. They start their work later today.
There is great potential for what the countries can do once the pandemic has subsided. Hope to be writing about that at some point.
photo credit: Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP
If we had known 2020 would be what it was, we would have traveled so much more in Canada in 2019. Sigh.
The hope is that at some point in 2021, Americans and Canadians can travel back and forth across the border without restrictions. The COVID-19 numbers have to come down for that to happen.
There were some 2020 travel adventures. We discovered that despite the lockdown with the border, Canadians could fly into the United States but ground crossings had restrictions. Those Canadians, when returning to Canada, and other travelers had to quarantine for 14 days. The snowbirds could fly south to the United States but their cars had to be shipped separately.
Travel envy extended to the Maritime provinces along with Newfoundland and Labrador. Those Canadians could travel to those provinces in an Atlantic travel bubble this summer.
The place I wanted to be in the Maritimes this summer was in Halifax where the CFL was going to play the first regular-season game ever in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We suggested that the league play all their 2020 games in the region, That suggestion was worth serious consideration. Too bad. The COVID-19 numbers in summer in that area were wonderful compared to elsewhere in North America.
While driving in New Brunswick as well as Newfoundland and Labrador, I saw signs looking out for moose. While I didn't see a moose on the road in either province, I did enjoy moose on my dinner plate in Petty Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador. Having driven in all 4 provinces, the scenery is gorgeous. A lot of country driving with covered bridges in New Brunswick. That would have been a fun way to celebrate summer 2020.
A few Americans came to Canada this summer in a professional capacity. As part of the NHL bubble plan, NBC got to produce the games in Toronto while Rogers Sportsnet produced the games in Edmonton. The NHL agreed to split the production regardless of where the games were going to be held. The U.S. network also sent announcers to Toronto and Edmonton. Kenny Albert found himself kicking field goals at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. Gord Miller (Canadian) got to stay in Toronto. John Forslund spent more consecutive days in Canada (Toronto) than he likely has ever spent. Forslund is not a big fan of Canada, especially since he likely called an Edmonton-Toronto regular season game (in January before the pandemic) from the United States.
Some Americans did get to travel within Canada in 2020. "Driving to Alaska" became a euphemism for having a Canadian vacation. The U.S. licence plate became a concern even for Canadians who happened to have American plates.
I would love to go "driving to Alaska" but will wait until that can be done safely and legally.
Canadian actor and director Jay Baruchel helped out Canadians and those outside Canada with a virtual road trip of Canadian films and Canadian TV made in different parts of the country. Some creative enterprises are obvious such as Republic of Doyle (St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) and Last Night (Toronto).
2020 was going to be the year for marijuana tourism in your Canada travel plans. This would be the first summer where Canada had legal edibles on the menu. If you live in the United States, you have been better off going to Colorado, California, or one of a number of friendly states.
If Americans get to travel to Canada in 2021, marijuana tourism might be high (pun intended) on your list. Follow the rules based on where in Canada you are traveling.
If you have a specific destination in mind, we do offer groupings based on provinces and territories. Want to explore New Brunswick or Manitoba? Our travel stories are now sorted by provinces.
We have been to each province so we have some insight into all the provinces.
Wish the short-term future would be better for tourism in Canada. As soon as that border opens, I may do a day trip in Windsor. Could use even a short-term dose of Canada.
0 score and 4 years ago, the Garden Collective released a compilation of videos from actual Canadians explaining why the United States is already great. This played off the "Make America Great Again" slogan.
Now, Canadians love Americans, not so much "America" right now. The anger and intensity from the angry toddler against Canada. Damaging tariffs and a one-sided trade "deal" not by negotiation but by threats. A border where casual travel is banned and Canada not being eager to change the status quo.
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has showcased what was great about cross-border travel between the countries and how important that was to each country's economy.
Anecdotally, my Canadian friends weigh in with empathy, sympathy for what is happening in the United States. Individual Americans and individual Canadians like each other. The country-country relationship has struggled mostly due to one individual person.
We aren't big fans of surveys but sadly these results are likely more true than we would want.
We cover a lot of politics on this blog. We know there is a U.S. election on November 3. We know U.S. citizens living in Canada are getting ready to vote for the U.S. president.
As a lifelong journalist, we don't believe in endorsements. No endorsements. Fans of Canada know where the U.S.-Canada relationship is now, was before 2017, and knows what might happen in 2021 and beyond.
Did we mention that the U.S. vice presidential candidate from the Democratic Party lived in Montréal as a teenager?
The Canadians who participated in the Garden Collective campaign would love to see an improvement in the Canada-U.S. relationship. The Canadian Crossing blog would love to see an improvement in the Canada-U.S. relationship.
Canadians watching from north of the 49th parallel might be paying attention to the presidential race. They should also, if they choose to do so, focus on Senate races and House races that can change the power dynamic in Congress. The CUSMA | USMCA trade trap can't change unless there is a power shift in the U.S. Senate. The dynamic of the unelected Canadian Senate is very different from the U.S. version.
Canadian snowbirds: retirees who spend the summer in Canada but go south to the United States to have a warmer winter than if they spent the same time in Canada. Not to be confused with Snowbird, written by Gene MacLellan and famously sung by Anne Murray.
The snowbirds were able to return to Canada at the start of the pandemic. Given where we are in the pandemic, some snowbirds will be stuck in Canada during the upcoming winter.
Canadians can fly to the United States, even with the border being closed. Driving is not an option either way and Americans can't fly into Canada. So Canadian snowbirds can fly south. While some states have potential quarantines, the states where snowbirds reside won't have that as an issue. The NFL had an issue with Kenny Albert being in Canada but snowbirds should be fine.
The problem is that snowbirds generally travel by car or their home to their southern destination. A trailer or RV needs to cross a land border.
Some Canadians are flying and having friends take them around or grocery shop for them as needed. Some Canadians are planning to stay because of the transportation issues.
Snowbirds also have to factor in health insurance, since some insurance companies aren't offering coverage because of the nonessential travel advisory.
Do the snowbirds own or rent in the United States? Can they afford to rent in Canada for the winter? So many questions.
In The Currentsegment on the topic on CBC Radio One, some of the respondents said they would wait until well after the November election since they feared riots based on the decision.
We have mentioned the economic impact of Canadians shopping in the United States, places such as Bellingham, WA, that have disappeared during the pandemic. Those small towns in Florida, Arizona, and other snowbird places rely heavily on Canadians economically in the winter.
Some of the snowbirds time their departure from the United States after MLB spring training ends. A 2021 MLB season isn't likely to have spring training in Florida and Arizona this coming March. The snowbirds who do make the trip are likely to leave sooner as soon as the weather gets reasonable in Canada.
The snowbirds also have to wrestle leaving relatively good COVID-19 numbers back home for the COVID-19 numbers in the United States, especially in Florida and Arizona. Winter might look bad to the snowbirds but the numbers to the south makes snow and ice more tempting than usual.
Canadians going to the U.S. south for the winter will have to quarantine back home for 2 weeks when they return in the spring of 2021. Those rules could change by then but likely not. Nostradamus would have no clue.
Even if snowbirds make the trip, the season won't be quite the same. The activities may be limited, though maybe not in Florida. Canadians wearing masks might stand out in Florida and Arizona, where mask wearing isn't required. The age of traditional snowbirds is sadly a major factor in terms of recovery if they contract COVID-19.
There had been a gathering of expats for Canadian Thanksgiving where I live. We started small but grew to about 100 people. The spot we found was really ideal: they already served a turkey dinner on Sunday nights. That restaurant closed in the spring of 2018. The story is familiar: the landlord raised the rent. The spot is still empty today.
You might notice in the picture above that the food is not a turkey dinner. They had the best fried chicken. What was I to do?
We couldn't find an alternative place in 2018 and 2019. Finding a spot in 2020 was fruitless since we wouldn't be able to do Thanksgiving anyway.
I miss the food at that place but the gathering of people was more special. I am thankful for those memories but wish I could make more memories.
No CFL. The Toronto Blue Jays, Raptors, and Maple Leafs are not playing. No U Sports. Families advised to not get together for Thanksgiving but maybe Christmas.
The ability to celebrate Thanksgiving may depend on where you are in Canada. Ontario and Quebec have been reporting hundreds of COVID-19 cases per day.
On October 1, Atlantic Canada (including Newfoundland and Labrador) accounted for 13 of the 14,490 active COVID-19 cases in Canada. Those cases are are all travel-related.
The Atlantic travel bubble remains in effect. If you are from one of the 4 provinces, you can freely travel between the Atlantic provinces. If not, travelers have to isolate for 2 weeks.
Nova Scotia premier Stephen McNeil said the bubble won't open up "any time soon."
The push for Indigenous travel is timely in an odd fashion. Canadians are encouraged to travel within their own country thanks to the pandemic. The territories are discouraging outsiders from coming in but there are options closer to home as well.
Being more aware of the stories and land of these people would be a travel adventure most Canadians might not consider. Hopefully, the pandemic makes us appreciate more of our neighbours.
Destination Indigenous has a few ideas on where to go. Going somewhere new when travel options are limited can be fun and exciting. Your kids, if you have them, can learn about Indigenous culture.
We didn't do a Thanksgiving notebook in 2019. We were so busy with so many stories (Canada election, NHL, CFL, MLS, films) in 2019. Not so much this year. Sigh.
If you need a dose of recent Thanksgivings, we posted our 2017 and 2018 notebooks. Enjoy with turkey or reasonable substitute.
Yes, Americans. Canadians eat similar foods for their Thanksgiving. They often have butter tarts, something missing from American Thanksgiving plates.
The Chicago International Film Festival, which starts next week, has not been kind to Canadian film in recent years. Not many titles and some very odd choices. Notable exceptions include Black Cop and The Twentieth Century, neither of which played at Windsor.
There are fewer films available for any film festival. The number of Canadian films in the 2020 Chicago International Film Festival: 0. Can't complain about the films brought in if there are no films to see. There could be a last-minute film addition. I still recall how they sneaked Felix and Meira into the festival with as little publicity as possible.
The building is rather famous for fans of the show so a potential owner should take that under consideration. As for the rooms, we don't know anything about the actual motel rooms since the interior shots were from a soundstage in Toronto.
The motel has been used for other projects such as the film A History of Violence from David Cronenberg. We found out that Jamal Murray of the NBA Denver Nuggets lived there for 2 years while playing for Orangeville Prep. The CBC documentary series Orangeville Prep was scheduled to debut this fall but has been delayed.
The motel's neighbours — Cafe Tropical, Bob's Garage, Rose Apothecary — are in nearby Goodwood, Ontario.
The Ottawa Senators, the only NHL team in Canada that hasn't played since March, was going to have a good evening on Monday for the NHL draft. The Sens had 3 1st-round picks. The team had a surprise for how the first of those picks would be announced.
Canadian treasure Alex Trebek, a University of Ottawa graduate, agreed to do a video to announce the first pick in the style of a Jeopardy question. Forward Tim Stuetzle will forever be the answer/question to that trivia note. Defenceman Jake Sanderson went at #5 and centre Ridly Greig at #28.
Twitter went wild with Trebek's announcement. We are thankful Trebek is still around to do such a cool presentation. Trebek, 80, is currently battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
The next NHL season will tentatively start on January 1, 2021.
The Buffalo Bills have a significant number of Canadian season ticket holders. The Bills have announced that money will be refunded accordingly as long as the border is closed.
The Bills aren't allowing any fans at its first two home games at Bills Stadium in accordance with New York state guidelines.
Buffalo opened up its home season yesterday with the New York Jets. The next home game is September 27 against the Los Angeles Rams. Yesterday marked the first time Buffalo had major league baseball and football in the area at the same time.
We noted that those in Buffalo couldn't get the Toronto Blue Jays on television. The Buffalo Sabres had a limited deal with Bell Media to get their games in the immediate southern Ontario area from 2013-2016.
Toronto fans of the Buffalo Bills can easily watch the team. The sim sub usually ends up on CFTO-TV Channel 9, the CTV station in Toronto. Fans with an antenna can get the games via WIVB-TV 4, CBS in Buffalo, and WUTV, Fox 29 in Buffalo.
The Detroit Lions get a lot of Canadian fans to cross the border in season ticket holders and fans for individual games. The Windsor bus systems runs buses straight to Ford Field on game days. The Seattle Seahawks get a lot of Canadian fans even if the drive is longer than Windsor to Detroit.
Some NFL teams are allowed to have home fans if their state's rules are more lenient. The Miami Dolphins are scheduled to let in 13,000 people for its first home game.
NFL fans in Canada could travel to the U.S. to watch the games. The problems are that they have to fly to their destination and have to quarantine for 14 days when they get back.
Canadians can easily get their games on television with no border crossings.
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has changed the sports world. The CFL cancelled its season in great part because they couldn't let in significant crowds. Quebec has a 250 maximum; the MLS Montréal Impact allowed that number in for recent games against Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The Buffalo Bills got snowed out in 2014 and moved a game to Detroit. The thought of moving the game to Toronto was thwarted since not all the players had passports.
Despite the attendance issues in the Bills Toronto series, the NFL is very popular in Canada. Without the CFL, the NFL will grow in stature, especially in Toronto and Vancouver.
U.S. NFL fans might think they get a decent amount of games on a Sunday. Canadians get way more games thanks to CTV stations across the country (with time shifting on cable or satellite) and TSN. Now that TSN doesn't have CFL games, Canadians may get even more NFL games.
Kenny Albert has been in one of the safest places in North America in the NHL bubble in Edmonton for NBCSN. Albert was scheduled to leave the bubble to cover the NFL for Fox. The NFL has had this peculiar rule, even more odd since the NFL plays in London and Mexico City and used to play in Toronto. Albert flew from Edmonton through Toronto to Detroit when he found out en route that he wouldn't be able to call the NFL game.
Fox replaced Albert for the game in Detroit with Dick Stockton, who reportedly came in from Arizona. Edmonton, even outside the bubble, is safer than Arizona.
We profiled Kenny Albert's life in the bubble. The NHL gets full credit for how the bubbles in Edmonton and Toronto have gone. The NFL could learn something from the NHL.
The NFL rule doesn't specifically say Canada, yet the national announcers are either in Canada (Albert) or the United States (everyone else). Sam Rosen, who is calling NHL playoff games on the radio, isn't on Fox's list of NFL announcers.
logo credit: Buffalo Bills/NFL Twitter capture: @canadian_xing
There are a few stories about people being cut off thanks to the Canada-U.S. border closing, a closing that will run until at least September 21. In the proverbial backseat, asking "when will the border restrictions be lifted?" is being ignored. You will know when it happens, whenever that might be.
The 19-year-old in Hyder, Alaska (population 63) cut off from his friends in Stewart, BC. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee sending a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on behalf of the residents of Point Roberts, WA, who are surrounded on 3 sides by water and the fourth side by Canada. The U.S. park ranger handling the American side of Peace Arch Historical State Park where Canadians cross over to see friends and loved ones while the Canadian side of Peace Arch Provincial Park closed on June 18. Small cities in Maine such as Calais, Houlton, and Fort Kent can't access their customers from nearby New Brunswick.
These stories and hundreds of others remind us of the importance of cross-border traffic between Canada and the United States.
Our travel coverage has suffered this summer as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. We do have a few stories, some of which don't mention Driving to Alaska.
Jay Baruchel took us on a Canadian TV and Canadian film led road trip in April. A way to travel through Canada without spending any loonies or twoonies.
When the border reopens and if you have enough money, travel to Canada may not involve an airplane (depending on where you live) and is a fine alternative to Europe that likely still won't be open to Americans even after the Canada border is open.
We don't want to close with a pseudo fake "We'll get through this together" message. We may not. Having a focal point can help us get through this pandemic. That could be making plans for travel to Canada.
I certainly have made a few arguments on how I could make an impact in Canada in various positions over the years. The requirements for the Canadian Senate are full of minutia.
You could argue that I haven't worked in a museum or been a CEO of a non-profit organisation. There is an opening for the CEO at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg after allegations of 'pervasive and systemic' racism.
So why would I be a great CEO for the Canadian Museum of Human Rights?
On the surface, I would not be the ideal CEO for a human rights museum in 2020 since I am a white male from the United States. I understand that. Here is why I might be the ideal candidate.
my love of Canadian film, including Indigenous stories — I likely have seen more documentaries and feature films of Indigenous people than most Canadians who are not Indigenous.
work as a journalist — Covering people's stories who don't normally get enough exposure, you learn to listen and let other people tell their stories. I have the inherent curiosity paramount to a good journalist.
love of history — I almost minored in history at university. I have a strong interest in learning stories from the past and how they relate to the present and the future.
principled approach to offensive sports nicknames — We have never published any of the offensive nicknames for any sports teams at CanadianCrossing.com.
the outsider element — I don't have biases against French-speaking people or Indigenous people. I don't have a province of bias since I am not from any province. I do know enough Canadian history but as an outsider.
empathy and sensitivity — People need to be heard and listened to with understanding. I might be in my box with my outside but feel comfortable being the only white or male or both in a room. I understand the need to have a harmonious workplace where people feel comfortable and safe. Good for those people but also the best way to get the most from your employees.
willingness to live in Winnipeg — I have been to Winnipeg and the museum. I enjoyed my time there. I don't have a snob reaction to living in Winnipeg.
You are often asked in job interviews about your motivations for why you want this particular position. You can't say "Canada. Winnipeg." and expect to get the job. You breathe a sigh and give an unexpectedly honest, blunt answer.
"At this point in my life, my career, I want to be somewhere to make a difference. I don't want this job just as a job. I want to be here at least a decade if not longer. I want this to be the last job interview I have in a good way."
"When I was here in Winnipeg, I heard in separate conversations from white women who told me they would never go in the Canadian Museum of Human Rights because Indigenous people get in for free. I had not been to the museum before these conversations. I was stunned each time I ran across the line, surprised that these women, who did not know each other, would repeat the same line. I hope that I become the new CEO to have a good response as a comeback. I would preach to the converted in this job but I also hope to have opportunities to show people such as these women the meaningfulness of why the museum is for everyone because all humans have rights."
Driving to Alaska, which I want to do after the pandemic is over, is now a lot more specific. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announcing new credentials as of July 31 at 12:01 am PDT. You must enter at a crossing from a list of 5 crossings: Abbotsford-Huntingdon (BC); Coutts (AB); Kingsgate (BC); North Portal (SK); and Osoyoos (BC).
Travellers will get a “hang tag” attached to their rear view mirror. This will help reduce Canadians' concern over U.S. licence plates in Canada. Drivers must check in once again with the CBSA before exiting Canada for Alaska.
They will be limited to travel within Canada using the most direct route from the point of entry while avoiding all national parks, leisure sites, and tourism activities. For what it's worth, Alberta RCMP said no fines were issued to wayward U.S. drivers in July.
Curious what the direct route would be crossing at Coutts. That could put you in Calgary and on the way to the Icefield Parkway. The drawback is the route would put you in Banff National Park, a violation of the terms. Just thinking about a post-pandemic trip.
You can go through the specifics if you are planning a trip. Quite surprised this wasn't on the docket before now. The trust the countries share should be encouraged but clearly some travellers were violating the letter and spirit of that trust.
Canadians do a lot more shopping in the United States than the other way around. Yet the numbers are now in the opposite direction. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says more than 2,100 people were turned away attempting to enter America at a land border between March and June.
The Canada Border Services Agency said more than 6,000 travellers were stopped from coming into Canada at land, rail, and marine ports between March 22 and July 22.
Those numbers are apples and oranges. The Canadian numbers include more ways to get in and are for a month longer than the U.S. numbers.
Canadians might be smarter in not trying to cross the border at this time. Americans may be clueless or they just don't care.
"When I called the U.S. the biggest petri dish in the world, that was not just off the cuff," George Creek, president of BC Marine Parks Forever, told NPR.
There are stories about accidentally crossing the border. The way some Americans are traveling shows they know the border is closed. Potential penalties include being banned from entering Canada for a period of time.
The 21st day in the month is now a trigger in whether the border closing will be renewed. There is no political capital on the Canadian side to open. Even if the worst of COVID-19 is in states nowhere near the border, Canadians for the most part have said no to the United States.
The American political landscape has a lot of issues; somehow the Canadian border isn't one of those issues lately.
Assuming the NFL starts anywhere the regular scheduled dates, the Buffalo Bills have informed Canadian season ticket holders that if the border remains closed, money will be refunded accordingly. No major sports league in North America has allowed fans; the NFL seems to think the league will allow limited numbers of fans. The Buffalo Bills have a significant Canadian clientele.
The Canadian government protection for those unemployed and underemployed isn't perfect but is light years away from the United States. The loss of the $600 unemployment supplement, for political purposes only, will do significant damage to the U.S. economy, which is saying something.
The CFL had plans for a much larger Touchdown Atlantic experience culminating in the first regular season CFL game in Nova Scotia on Saturday. The game had sold out, something that didn't always happen.
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic might take out the first year without a Canadian football season since 1918. COVID-19 did take out the 2020 Touchdown Atlantic game and celebration.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts were scheduled to play at Saint Mary's University in Halifax. Chris Cuthbert did regret in his departure from TSN that he never got to call a regular-season game in Halifax. Cuthbert's TSN debut was a preseason game in Halifax.
They were bringing in temporary seats to fill the capacity to 10,000. There would have been a festive atmosphere given the proximity to downtown Halifax.
The Touchdown Atlantic has had regular season games in Moncton, New Brunswick in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2019. A scheduled 2006 exhibition game in Halifax was cancelled in 2006 since the Ottawa Renegades folded. Saint John, New Brunswick hosted preseason games in 1986 and 1987 before Touchdown Atlantic was a concept.
Having a regular season game in Halifax was supposed to be a major step in the formation of the Atlantic Schooners.
The CFL had planned a 3-day “mini Grey Cup festival” featuring music, parties, and family-friendly fun. Today would have been Day 3. I have not been to a Grey Cup week but reportedly the people who have the most fun are the Atlantic Schooners gatherings. They don't even have a team. Yet.
We did propose the CFL play a limited season in Moncton, Saint John, and Halifax to bring attention to the sport in Atlantic Canada. Not a genius but the timing of a July and August season in that part of Canada would have been glorious.
There wouldn't have been fans at the games but the attention to that part of Canada would have looked so good on television.
I visited Moncton and New Brunswick in 2013 in part because of Touchdown Atlantic. That was a wonderful trip that had a CFL game in the mix. I have seen a lot of Canada in part because of the CFL.
We know the next full and relatively normal CFL season will have a Touchdown Atlantic in Halifax. The celebration may be extra special because of what has happened. I would have done some morning shopping at the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market, a short distance from the stadium. A good time of year to get a real lobster roll (butter, not mayonnaise). The streets will be filled with the green of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. They travel well. There will be some Toronto Argonauts fans, too. I remember seeing Ottawa Rough Riders jerseys in 2013, a year before the Ottawa RedBlacks made their debut.
There will even be some Atlantic Schooners jerseys in the mix.
