Windsor's Mayor agrees with Ontario Premier Doug Ford that the Canada-U.S. border should remain closed past July 21 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on AM800's The Morning Drive, Drew Dilkens says he doesn't foresee the border reopening any time soon.
"As we get closer here in July, I expect there will be some news that the Federal Government will look at keeping it closed. Just look at what's happening south of the border,' says Dilkens. Adding, he isn't encouraged by recent data he saw.
"Although the U.S. is 10 times the size in terms of population of Canada, their new infection rate day-over-day was 100 times higher, so they had like 38,000 new cases in one day and we had 300 across the entire country here in Canada.")
Dilkens says we don't want the border to be porous right now, adding that we need it for business.
"We're back to just over 80 per cent of pre-COVID commercial traffic rates so that's a good sign that the automotive industry locally is working and other businesses crossing as well," he says. "But to the extent that we can get by another 30 or 60 or 90 days with the border closure, I think it would be better for everyone here and frankly, for everyone in Canada."
The ban for non-essential travel has been in place since March 21.