US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says the Canada-US border should open soon as residents of both countries suffer the effects of prolonged closures.

Originally reported by True North contributor Anthony Furey, Schumer travelled to the Massena International Airport in upstate New York this week to make his case for re-opening the border.

“We can’t wait any longer,” the New York state senator said.

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“The monthly extensions… have no rhyme or reason, they confuse people, they don’t let people plan, they frustrate thousands of western New Yorkers and Southern Ontarians, who depend on the border crossing.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau originally closed the border to non-essential travel on March 16, 2020 and has extended the closure each month since.

Earlier this week, Trudeau indicated that he was not interested in re-opening the border anytime soon, but added that he may consider reopening it in the summer “if everything goes well.”

Schumer says the United States’ high vaccination rates and New York’s recent decision to lift most restrictions means keeping the border closed is no longer necessary.