State Senator Patty Ritchie of Heuvelton, who represents part of St. Lawrence County in the 48th District, recently weighed in on the United State’s extension of its border closure with Canada.

“Today’s announcement that the United States will extend its Canadian Border closure is in a word, unacceptable,” Ritchie said in an official statement.

The border closure extension has direct bearing on Ritchie’s constituents in the 48th District. The region she represents shares a border with Canada from Cape Vincent all the way along the St. Lawrence River to Massena.

“As the State Senator representing the longest stretch of our state's 450-mile shared border with Canada, I know how critically important this issue is. Denying Canadians entry into our country hurts New York’s border communities and especially the many hardworking business owners who have already suffered tremendously due to the pandemic. Many of these businesses are seasonal and depend on cross-border tourism to survive. With the summer travel season in full swing, the need to safely reopen the border as soon as possible cannot be overstated,” she said.

“Keeping our northern border closed any longer—especially in light of Canada’s recent announcement that they will reopen the border to fully vaccinated American travelers next month—is wrong. I urge our federal officials take action immediately to responsibly open our northern border as soon as possible,” the senator said.