[ST. PAUL, MN] – As the Biden Administration lifts travel restrictions at the U.S.-Canada border for fully vaccinated travelers, Governor Tim Walz proclaimed today, Monday, November 8, 2021, as Canadian Travelers Day in the state of Minnesota to recognize Canadian travelers’ contributions to Minnesota’s economy and culture.

“We have missed seeing our Canadian friends at our hockey games and other events; at our restaurants and breweries; at our museums and theaters; at our hotels, resorts, and campgrounds; at our shops and in our communities,” reads the proclamation issued by Governor Walz. “We welcome Canadians back to Minnesota with open arms as the U.S.-Canada land border reopens today.”

The U.S.-Canada land border has been closed to leisure travel since March 21, 2020, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 1.75 million people crossed the U.S.-Canada border at one of the Minnesota checkpoints in 2019. Canadian spending in Minnesota totaled $175 million in 2019.