Concord Ledger

Leaders in New Hampshire are asking the federal government to speed up the process to reopen the Canadian border to vaccinated travelers, according to The Center Square. 

"Canada's reopening of the border to fully vaccinated Americans is welcome news for New Hampshire residents and businesses. The U.S. should now follow Canada's lead in opening the border to vaccinated Canadians," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) said in an Aug. 10 Tweet.

As of now, the U.S.-Canada border is closed to nonessential travelers until Tuesday, Sept. 21, which is impacting business and the tourism sector in the state. New Hampshire typically depends on tourism dollars from Canadian travelers, particularly during the summer.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen | U.S. Senate

Canada has had its side of the border open for vaccinated U.S. travelers since Aug. 9, according to Boston.com. 

Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) argued that there is no reason for extending the closure of the border, since Canadian vaccination rates exceed those of the U.S., and Canada is already accepting U.S. visitors. 

According to The Center Square, during a remote meeting with U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials, political and business leaders from New Hampshire urgently called on the federal agency to lift the restrictions at the border as soon as possible.

Gov. Chris Sununu (R) has also reportedly called the decision not to open the border "absurd," according to The Center Square.