Canada-U.S. border towns fight for right to bubble together

Two picturesque towns along the Canada-U.S. border are fighting for the right to bubble together. They straddle the Alaska-B.C. border and are separated by a clear-cut line and a COVID travel ban.

But in many ways the two communities are as one, and rely heavily on each other. Briar Stewart shows how people there are working together even as they're apart.

[mrnovacan]

Can american and canadian bears visit one another without a permit?

[rem]

I am an American and would visit Buffalo/Niagara Falls in 1997, wander to the Canadian side to get a beer and back to the US side to get a slice of pizza and no one would care back then. It’s way different now

[IvoryS]

Thats terrible. Especially not allowing children to go to school and not allowing the elderly to freely travel for social needs and food.

[Kaydeleon]

That kid was 100% correct “how can we get the covid from the bears and trees? We are the last front” kid is smart

[suzieque]

I grew up in a border town. Had friends both sides. I got close and got to know the U.S. side. Now, many years later, things will happen to remind me. I am a proud Canadian and I love U.S., our neighbour.

[corporalkang-in-chan]

The atmosphere at the US-Canada border looks more relaxed and friendly than my home in Texas on the US-Mexico border

[jordancook]

The girl who says, “where are we supposed to get COVID from, the trees”? gets how dumb the restriction is better than government officials. That’s sad.

[RogersMgmtGroup]

You can’t drive from Hyder to anywhere but BC. The main road goes into Stewart BC and then back into remote BC to some glaciers and mines. There is no US Border control point but there is Canada Customs. Historically a few people a year get stuck in Hyder after leaving Canada without the right paperwork to get back.

Point Roberts WA has a similar problem, unable to go anywhere without driving through Canada. Exceptions should be made.

[christinemerritt]

Oh my.. these children are precious. Community is very important here. It’s vital to mental health.

[jxxnmatt]

I personally feel for them. This is something our (also maybe theirs) America has gotten far away from with every passing decade. Neighbors hardly know one another, often if not for kids there would be zero bonding. As for this special case, it would be totally moral to bond / bubble the communities. I recently commented on a site of being too dependent on Russia, but this is much more accepting, it's just better rooted. This situation specifically, they're risk taken via COVID regardless of boundaries.

[bobpeterssen]

An absolute disgrace that politicians on both sides have allowed this to go on.
When will the sensible and right thing to do happen? I have a real soft spot for this region having been there and feel your pain and frustration. Literally one of the most beautiful and unique places I've ever been! May God bless you all, and hope this ugly chapter in U.S. and Canadian history be resolved asap!

[Transit]

They should grant an exception to these 63 residents from Hyder. There are several other locations along our borders (Point Roberts, WA and Angle Inlet, MN) that are cut off from the rest of the United States. Isn't this a prime example of 'Essential Travel'???

[jaydee]

There needs to be exceptions for cases like this.

[itsmesnooze]

The fact that one group of people can tell another group of people what to do is insane

[TheRantingCabbie]

The kids they interviewed had more common sense than the politicians.

[maroku]

Bless these folks for helping their neighbor.

[DanielJaegerFilms]

1:53 when a kid has more common sense than the government

[chelzee]

Great questions from a young person! Never stop questioning, investigating, and being curious!

[shanecydrus]

What a beautiful little town. The scenery was amazing

[faulsity]

As an American, I’d like to see greater unity between the US and Canada, we have the same culture, the same language and share many friends. I hope these communities are able to mingle more in the future.