Ontario-Quebec border restrictions to end Wednesday

Ontario and Quebec have each announced restrictions on non-essential travel between the two provinces will endat 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

The order banning non-essential travel between the two provinceswent into effect in April.

Since then, provincial and local police have intermittently staffed checkpoints at interprovincial crossingsand have issuedtickets or turned around motorists who don't have essential work, medical or humanitarian reasons to travel between regions.

This also marks the end of Quebec's rule requiring residents returning from Ontario toself-isolate for 14 days.

"I am happy to learn that travel restrictions will be lifted between Ontario and Qubec this Wednesday," Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson wrote on Twitter.

Im glad theyve come to their senses: Ottawa mayor lauds end of travel restrictions between Ontario, Quebec

3 years ago

Duration 1:02

Non-essential travel between Ontario and Quebec is set to resume on Wednesday after the province introduced restrictions in April. Ottawa mayor Jim Watson says the measures didnt make sense between Ottawa and Gatineau.

"After months of wasted police resources to control travel around the [National Capital Region], our two highly integrated economic regions will greatly benefit from this decision."

In an interview with Radio-Canada,Watson said he hadn't seenevidencethe restrictions between Ottawaand Gatineauhelped curb COVID-19 cases in the region.

He said the citywould bill the provincial governmentwhat itcostto operate the checkpoints,which he estimates to be more than $600,000.

"And they've assured us that they'll be paying for that," Watsonsaid.

Western Quebec moved to yellow zone rules on Monday, allowing some indoor dining and gatherings between households to resume. Ontario is currently in Step 1 of its reopening plan.

Travel restrictions between Ontario and Manitoba will also be lifted on Wednesday.