NS Aid: No Problem for Electrician Crews at Border

Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Nova Scotia Power says no problems prevented American crews from crossing the border to help repair the power grid devastated by Hurricane Fiona.

On Sunday, the utility company and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston had both said a problem with the controversial ArriveCan app was delaying the entry of electrician crews into Canada.

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos stressed Monday morning that the decree making the application mandatory and requiring foreign citizens to be vaccinated to come to Canada will expire on Friday.

Crews of electricians who help restore power are considered essential workers and are exempt from border measures.

In a new statement on Monday afternoon, Nova Scotia Power spokeswoman Jacqueline Foster admitted there had been some confusion over the app, but it’s now been confirmed that it isn’t. there was no problem.

Electrical utility company Versant Power says 15 line workers and two mechanics left Bangor, Maine, for Canada early Monday morning without issue, and Central Maine Power reports more than a dozen two-man crews. people and 10 support workers crossed the border without incident around 7 a.m. Monday.

« We now know that there were no problems with ArriveCan, » said Ms. Foster. Our contractors have crossed the border and we are grateful to have them as part of our restoration efforts here in Nova Scotia.”

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said it cleared 19 electric service trucks at the Third Bridge border crossing in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, just after 7 a.m. Monday. The CBSA said the average processing time was between 30 and 60 seconds per vehicle.

The ArriveCan app has fueled heated political debates for months and Conservatives have repeatedly called on the government to disable it.

During Monday’s Question Period, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre cited allegations that ArriveCan delayed electrician crews to demand the app be taken down sooner than expected.

He asked: ‘Will the Prime Minister suspend the ArriveCan app today, not Saturday, so there are no more blockages at the border for those trying to help those desperate need? »

Justin Trudeau replied that he can « confirm that there were no delays at any border due to ArriveCan or (something else). »

The utility company said on Sunday that crews were physically stuck at the border, but hours after question period on Monday confirmed that had never been the case.

Ms Foster suggested the error was the result of ‘confusion’ after concerns were raised on Friday – before the storm hit – that Maine teams could not cross the border because of ArriveCan.

No New Brunswick border crossings reported problems over the weekend.