Canadian, U.S. post-pandemic travel trends are skipping the Point

“Not having thousands of people cross each week for their cheap fuel or parcels was actually a blessing. Peace and quiet here was wonderful,” said a Point Roberts small-business operator who contributed a comment that was anonymized in the forthcoming research report. 

“I enjoyed the quiet in Point Roberts and observing the birds, coyotes and other wildlife thriving,” said a parent with children who were allowed to roam more freely. “It is amazing what a benefit the border closure was to the population of birds in my yard.”

Short and longer-term economic development

Some aspects of the local economy, notably real estate, held up during the pandemic and are still going steady. Next, several upcoming infrastructure initiatives could lay the groundwork for denser development or new businesses.

A nearly $12 million federal broadband grant awarded to Whidbey Telecom included funding to build an undersea fiber cable between Point Roberts and Whidbey Island. That promises to offer higher-speed and higher-capacity internet service in a few years to the peninsula where broadband speeds currently can be sluggish.

Another major project, merely under discussion at this point, would stretch a sewer line across the border from the city of Delta, British Columbia, into Point Roberts. Septic systems are de rigueur for buildings in Point Roberts, but that limits future development options and has environmental drawbacks.

Indefatigable Point Roberts Chamber President Calder continues to promote the idea of a blanket exemption or temporary nonimmigrant work (H-2B) visa that would allow local businesses to hire Canadians for seasonal service jobs. Last summer, Calder and several of the community’s bigger employers got the attention of U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and Sen. Patty Murray.

“Point Roberts faces unique hurdles given its geography when it comes to recruiting workers, and I support common-sense efforts to help folks in Point Roberts more easily hire people from just across the border in Canada to keep their businesses afloat,” Murray said in a statement last week.

Murray’s staff previously made inquiries with the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of Point Roberts constituents. The upshot was that local businesses were encouraged to apply individually to the H-2B program, which allows qualifying employers to hire temporary foreign workers for nonagricultural jobs.

Supermarket owner Hayton prepared an H-2B visa application, but was unsuccessful and found the whole process befuddling.

“It just kept being kicked back by Homeland Security for one thing or another. After 10 hours, I gave up,” Hayton said.

Salish Current originally published this story May 20, 2024.