September 19, 2020
Saturday AM

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone in ways we could not have foreseen. One particularly cumbersome issue is Alaskans’ inability to travel to and through Canada. Most notably, our unique southern southeast town of Hyder - which shares a border with Stewart, British Columbia - is negatively impacted by travel restrictions.

Hyder is unique because of its relationship with Stewart; these neighboring communities rely heavily on each other and are economically tied together. In normal circumstances, Hyder residents frequently travel across the border for groceries and medical care. Access to Hyder is limited to private means (such as chartering a flight or using a personal watercraft) or through Stewart. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Hyder has been almost completely isolated, and Hyder residents have not been able to cross the US-Canadian border without having to comply with an unrealistic 14-day quarantine between each border crossing.

Both communities are feeling the strain of these restrictions, so I wrote a letter of support in recognizing Hyder and Stewart as an integrated trans-border community. I sent this letter to Canadian Minister of Public Health and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair. By officially recognizing these towns as an integrated trans-border community, the 14-day quarantine would no longer apply for residents.

Thank you to the collaborative effort by residents from both communities in addressing this issue. Although we have not yet heard positive affirmation from Minister Blair, I will keep urging Canadian officials to address this situation. There is also a Hyder, AK and Stewart, BC COVID-19 Action Committee that is committed to alleviating this burden. You can reach them at hyderstewartac@gmail.com.

If you have any other concerns, particularly related to COVID-19 travel, feel free to reach out to me at Rep.Dan.Ortiz@AKLeg.gov or calling my office at (907) 247-4672.

Rep. Dan Ortiz
Ketchikan, Alaska

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Received September 17, 2020 - Published September 19, 2020, 2020

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