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Minnesota Pressures For Border Opening

There’s plenty of demand in Minnesota to relax travel restrictions at the Canada-US border.

A number of community leaders, business owners, organizations and others spoke about the impact its having during a roundtable discussion in International Falls.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski also took part, saying improving vaccination rates will help. “When Americans can show proof of vaccination, and we have a good deal of our population, and vulnerable ones vaccinated, then I think we’ll probably be in a pretty good position.”

He feels there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

“I wouldn’t be too pessimistic about the opening. I think it will come in the not too distance future, but unfortunately we can’t say when…. that’s my opinion,” says Powlowski.

Mike Roberts with Marvin Windows in Warroad, a few miles south of the border, says communities half lost half their radius by the restrictions.

Some spoke of not being able to see their lodges or cabins in Canada yet still having to pay the taxes on those properties.

  • Randy Thoms is a veteran news broadcaster with over 40 years' experience. He is based in Fort Frances and covers stories across northwestern Ontario. Contact Randy at thoms.randy@radioabl.ca.

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8:49 am, May 17, 2026
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