Campobello Islanders fear losing access to mainland

New Brunswick joined the growing list of provinces to declare a state of emergency on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans on Friday, March 20, for international borders to tighten even further as the global pandemic reaches a more critical state in North America. The Prime Minister insisted it was mutual decision by Canada and the US to close their shared border to non-essential travel, a decision that will go into effect at midnight.

This change has raised concern for many residents of Campobello Island who, without a year-round, rely on access to the rest of Canada via a bridge to Lubec, Maine. As the list of positive COVID-19 cases grows in Canada, this has left some Campobello Islanders worried that if they do call Health line 8-1-1 and are directed to get tested, they might be denied entry into the US once this information is relayed to American customs officers as the essential reason for travel. 

"We've been told by the authorities that residents of Campobello will be able to move. Equally, healthcare workers will be able to transport residents through Maine into New Brunswick," said Premier Higgs on Friday about the pertinent issue of access to mainland Canada for Islanders.