While a few years ago, Canadians in the neighborhood transported many rebellious Americans across the St. Clair River after a careless flutter, they promise such a warm welcome if this happens this year.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police called on others not to participate in this year’s Float Down due to the coronavirus pandemic. He recalled the occasion of 2016 when more than 1,500 Americans accidentally floated in Canada due to strong winds.
“Crossing the maritime border to Canada for optional or discretionary purposes, such as excursions, sightseeing and recreational fishing can result in fines of up to $750,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months,” according to an RCMP provided through spokeswoman Diane Jennings.
The Canada-U.S. border It has been closed since March due to COVID-19. It opens only to a must-have traffic, which does not come with participants in the Float Down air chambers and emerging rafts.
U.S. Coast Guard Detroit Public Affairs officer Jeremiah Schiessel said the RCMP had no effect on the Coast Guard’s Float Down project because it targets public safety. However, Schiessel encouraged others not to participate.
“We are not naive to think that other people are not going,” Shiessel said, USCG urges those who decide to participate in keeping the correct identification, life jackets and other security measures.
The RCMP warned that other people floating illegally in Canada will need to go through the medical examination and customs evidence of COVID-19. They will be the subject of Canadian legislation on firearms, controlled substances, alcohol, immigration, customs and more. Anyone arriving in Canada must present a photo ID.
Those who refuse to review the Quarantine Act will be arrested, according to the statement. U.S. citizens landing in Canada will be returned to the United States and handed over to the Port Huron authorities.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said he didn’t need the Float Down invasion. Bradley said he understands that other people need to laugh and didn’t object to the occasion in general, but it’s a very bad year for an incident.
“It was a remarkable act of generosity in 2016 where no one carried,” he said. “We brought everyone back to the states very quickly. But COVID has added one more facet to this.”
However, Bradley is involved in an incident like the one in 2016 that could undermine the region’s fighting as opposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Float Down requires a lot of effort for the police.
“It’s a lot of time and effort,” he said. “And if we end up with other people, it will surely be wrong when we do our best in this network and we will decrease COVID. And for our other people at risk…”
Float Down takes place on the third Sunday of August, which puts it this Sunday, August 16.
Read more:
Floating invasion goes viral
Mayor of Sarnia: We don’t rate the U.S. By Float Down
Float Down trades the city and county $10,000
Nearly 1,500 Float Down arrive in Canada
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Contact Jeremy Ervin at (810) 989-6273 or [email protected] and he on Twitter @ErvinJeremy.