Advertisement

Washington state asks Canada for Point Roberts coronavirus exemption

Click to play video: 'Point Roberts fire chief expresses border concerns'
Point Roberts fire chief expresses border concerns
Point Roberts fire chief expresses border concerns – Jul 22, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is asking Canada for help with U.S. residents of a small peninsula who have been marooned by the pandemic-related closure of the U.S.-Canada border.

Point Roberts is part of Washington state, but it juts out from the Canadian mainland south of Vancouver and it is not connected to the rest of Washington.

About 1,300 Washington residents live there.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

In a letter Friday to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Inslee noted that the residents of Point Roberts are isolated, but they are usually able to drive through Canada and back into Washington state to obtain goods and services or to see family and friends.

With the border closed to nearly all travel since March 21, that hasn’t been possible.

Story continues below advertisement

Inslee suggested that residents of Point Roberts could be given special travel permits allowing them to drive directly to and from the Washington state mainland.

Canada has granted similar travel permits to Americans driving between the Lower 48 and Alaska.

Sponsored content

AdChoices