Today is 4/20, April 20. The day to celebrate marijuana in times of being illegal. Marijuana is legal in Canada. Some U.S. states have various levels of legalisation. The provinces regulate how much you can grow, if you are allowed to grow.
Canadians can easily consume marijuana in the privacy of their own homes, though smoking is tough if you rent. Marijuana tourism is a bit more difficult since there are conditions against public consumption. The excitement of finally getting legal edibles in Canada (for non-Canadians) was toned down by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The Canada-U.S. border "celebrates" 13 months of closure as of tomorrow. The border isn't opening any time soon. The focus has shifted from high COVID-19 case rates in the United States to the variants sending Canadian case rates higher than what they were a year ago.
Americans don't have to travel to Canada for legal marijuana. Vox reported that about 43 percent of the U.S. population live in a place where pot is available for any purpose. Recently, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and New Mexico have approved recreational use.
Marijuana tourism might not be at the top of travel plans; people are anxious to go to different places. Canada-U.S. travel is a crucial part of the border experience that has been missing during the pandemic. Poutine tastes good if you are sober but could be more tempting in an altered state.
Marijuana Business Daily has some cool statistics on marijuana purchases in Canada's major cities.
The Canadian Automobile Association North and East Ontario produced some fun public service announcements on all the great things you can do while on edibles (hint: driving is not one of them). The ketchup on the fries (above photo) is endearing since French fries have been a rare treat during the pandemic. Fries and gravy, a great Canadian staple, is very much missed.
Drug Free Kids Canada also has a campaign on marijuana edibles. Their focus is on how they aren't as innocent as they look. Edibles do take longer to kick into the human body. The music from A Clockwork Orange does add danger to the presentation.
Tomorrow is National Canadian Film Day. We will have extensive coverage of that special day. If you want to get started early, we heartily recommend Canadian Strain. Americans can watch the Canadian film on Amazon Prime Video.
video and photo credit: CAA North and East Ontario; Drug Free Kids Canada
The Canada-U.S. border is approaching 14 months of closure. We've written about border communities struggling without the rest of the community. Now we can add Ottawa and Gatineau to the list.
The Ontario-Quebec border will be closed as of tomorrow thanks to the impact of variants in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Standard exceptions are in place, such as going to and from work, seeking medical care, transporting goods and exercising Indigenous treaty rights.
Ontario is also closing its border with Manitoba. There aren't too many border communities in Canada. The Lloydminster twins (Alberta and Saskatchewan) leap to mind. The stretch of where New Brunswick and Nova Scotia meet before you go to Prince Edward Island. Ottawa (Ontario) and Gatineau (Quebec).
I have crossed provinces by bus (Manitoba to Saskatchewan); mini bus (New Brunswick to Nova Scotia and the reverse); and walking (Ottawa to Gatineau and back). The Royal Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge, aka Alexandra Bridge or Interprovincial Bridge, runs just north and east of Parliament Hill across the Ottawa River to Gatineau, Quebec.
There is a joy of crossing jurisdictions by walking over a bridge. The Cross Border Xpress (CBX) bridge from the United States to the Tijuana airport. The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge from Cincinnati (Ohio) to Covington (Kentucky) is a personal favourite, having crossed that bridge. The Confederation Bridge between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island is 12.9 km.
Metro in Washington DC in the U.S. capital crosses between Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Ottawa buses regularly travel to Gatineau.
Young people have had a ritual of going from Ontario to Quebec to buy alcohol (19 vs. 18) and now from Quebec to Ontario to buy marijuana (21 vs. 19). Some government workers may live in Quebec and commute into Ottawa because housing may be cheaper. They will be able to cross now but their commutes will change.
We believe in a world where borders are a minor inconvenience, if that. The nationalism we've seen creeping through Europe and North America during the pandemic has been depressing. Going from London to Quebec City might not be advised but restricting traffic within border communities is inhumane.
The Canada-U.S. border won't open until provincial borders are open. Let's hope that is soon.
The premise for the original Bon Cop, Bad Cop is that a body is found on the Ontario-Quebec border. So a cop from Ontario and a cop from Quebec work together on the case. The premise is a bit out there but funny for a movie. The pandemic version would have each cop on his own side of the border; not nearly as funny.
The longest unprotected border — Canada and the United States — has been closed for a year and a day. Day 21 of the month has been a trigger that the border would be closed for another month. Things are so bad that TFN (til further notice) is now the operating acronym.
We have written about Hyder, Alaska and Stewart, British Columbia. We know the Detroit-Windsor story. There are hundreds of similar arrangements along the Canada-U.S. border, a border that has now been shut down for a year and a day.
The Current on CBC Radio One recently looked into the border impact with Stanstead, Quebec on the border with Derby Line, Vermont.
No border area has had quite the adventure during this pandemic as Point Roberts, Washington.
Point Roberts, Washington is surrounded on 3 sides by water and the other side by Tsawwassen in Canada. If you have ever taken the BC Ferries from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (just north of Victoria), then you have seen Point Roberts from a distance.
Before the pandemic, Canadians would cross into Point Roberts to pick up parcels and buy cheap gas. Americans would cross over to gain access to Vancouver or go for a drugstore and hospital by crossing 2 international borders to go to the rest of Washington state.
There isn't a ferry service to get people to Bellingham in Washington state, so the isolation in Point Roberts is significant. The border closing grew that isolation exponentially.
The video (above) is a documentary from Off the Cuff, who traveled to Point Roberts by renting a private boat to access the town via the water. They talk to local residents, walk along the border, and look into a proposal for Canada to annex Point Roberts.
Point Roberts is less developed than Tsawwassen. Some of the locals expressed concern that their property values would sharply increase if the town were to become a part of Tsawwassen.
Road to Roxham explores the world of what was the most famous unofficial border crossing from nearby Plattsburgh, NY into Quebec. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought that crossing to a halt.
This CBC short docs original documentary tells the story of the taxi drivers who bring refugees to the border to cross into Canada. Though there has been a change in the U.S. administration, you still have to think this crossing will become relevant once the border is reopened.
The words "essential travel" have been tossed around. To many of these communities, their friends and family are on the other side of the border. Their interactions have not been considered "essential."
We know hundred of thousands of lives have been impacted by the loss of access to the Canada-U.S. border. We hope the opening will be soon but we aren't counting on that happening soon.
video credit: YouTube/Off the Cuff photo credit: Road to Roxham film
Circling March 11 can be considered a random date to note the impact of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had heard of COVID-19 at least since January. The WHO did characterize COVID-19 as a pandemic on this date in 2020.
The Hometown Hockey tweet on March 11 cancelling the appearances in North Vancouver, Campbell River (BC), and Edmonton rang strong that this might last for awhile.
We contemplated the status of a Montréal Canadiens game scheduled for San Jose for March 19. We considered alternatives to Santa Clara County after the announcement of no gatherings larger than 1,000 would be allowed through the end of March.
The contemplation was mostly as to whether the NHL would considered playing a game in the actual Bay Area: Chase Center and the classic Cow Palace in San Francisco (San Francisco County) and Oakland Coliseum Arena (Alameda County). Those counties implemented similar bans.
The NBA shut down that night. The NHL shut down the next day.
We got the word on March 12 that Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, tested positive for COVID-19.
We learned about the impact of the chief public health officer, such as Dr. Theresa Tam on the federal level and Dr. Bonnie Henry in British Columbia. Canadians got updates from competent, relevant people, something Americans would have been drooling with jealousy. Canadians don't always have to compare themselves with Americans; the nightmare that was the U.S. federal response made Canadians relieved that the border was closed.
The Maritime provinces along with Newfoundland and Labrador even had a travel bubble during the summer.
The border has been closed, except to essential workers, since March 21, 2020.
Your humble narrator doesn't like to draw attention but the loss of access to Canada has been devastating. No butter tarts, real poutine, spending dollar coins, poppies. A land of plentiful garbage and recycling bins. No Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, and Swiss Chalet. No trips to places where I need to go back (Montréal) and places where I have never been (Saskatoon, Jasper).
The pandemic has meant tremendous losses for people, especially those in long-term care homes. Didn't know before the pandemic that Ontario, in particular, had private long-term care homes. The pandemic has also done a lot of economic damage, especially along the U.S. border, on both sides. There are many communities along the border who didn't see the border as a major barrier; the nationalism that was prevalent as a result, well, hopefully, will subside as things improve.
When "normal" arrives, the unity of the Canada-U.S. border will hopefully be stronger and more appreciated than before COVID-19 became a part of our vocabulary.
In my travels to all 10 Canadian provinces, I have stayed mostly in hostels. If hostels are the difference between travel and not travel, I will pick a hostel. I have stayed in hotels in Windsor, a very different exception, a night each in Saint John and Fredericton, both in New Brunswick, and one hotel room in downtown Vancouver not recommended for those suffering from claustrophobia. I have stayed in dorms in Winnipeg and Vancouver, great for summer travel.
Canadian hotels have been prevalent in the news where the Canadian government is requiring air travellers landing in Canada to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense, starting February 22.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has used a $2,000 figure as the potential cost of the 3-day quarantine hotel stay.
Flights into Canada are only coming to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, or Montréal. The 72 hours is required to await the results of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
The $2,000 figure seems a bit high even when you factor in security, testing, and presumably food. Canadian hotel rooms aren't any more magical than hotel rooms in other countries.
"The price will include costs associated with the room, food, cleaning, infection prevention and control measures, and security as well as transportation," said Health Minister Patty Hajdu.
If the test proves negative, those people can take a connecting flight to their final destination.
"We're aware that that we need to be thoughtful and compassionate about people who are in extremely difficult situations and absolutely need to travel. We're not trying to punish people," Prime Minister Trudeau said.
Some areas have paid to have people quarantine in hotels during COVID-19 but that was earlier in the pandemic. The $2,000 number might be an incentive to discourage unnecessary travel. We still don't know how the snowbirds will be affected by this new policy.
There is a considerable focus on when the Canada-U.S. border will reopen. The lack of consistency in policy between the borders will likely lead to a delay in that reopening. The fact that Canadians and those in Canada can fly to the United States without issue is a concern. The "driving to Alaska" antics didn't improve the perceptions of travelers from the United States.
The new Trudeau policy is trying to get Canadians to stay within Canada. The instinct for Canadians is to travel to the United States, especially when the weather is cold in Canada. We would love for those in the States to have an instinct to visit Canada though not until the COVID-19 situation is significantly improved.
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.
