Premier Blaine Higgs says discussions on reopening the Atlantic bubble have not yet begun.
However, he believes talks with the other provinces could begin as soon as April, with the hope of the bubble reforming by June.
Higgs added that the province remains ‘months away’ from being able to reopen to the rest of Canada or internationally.
In comments following Thursday’s premier’s meeting, Higgs said the ability to reopen depends greatly on the province’s access to Canada’s precarious vaccine supply.
“The point of us having greater (border) security in New Brunswick is that our essential workers, our travellers, our truck drivers, the people coming every day to Atlantic Canada from outside would be vaccinated,” the premier said. “Because then our risk would be much, much lower.”
Higgs said the government currently hopes to have all New Brunswickers receive a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by June.
That plan would likely entail delaying the second shot for those who have already received the first.
The province’s COVID-19 committee will meet with Public Health next week to update the rollout schedule to include the expected shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines.
Higgs says he’s optimistic the province will have enough doses to at least be ready for an Atlantic bubble this summer, but it’s too soon to predict when they could waive the quarantine period for travellers from outside of the east coast.
“I’d like to get beyond (the Atlantic bubble) to the rest of Canada, but one step at a time,” said Higgs.
The Atlantic bubble popped back in November after various outbreaks caused New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to once again close the border.
It’s nearing the one year mark since New Brunswick first closed to the rest of Canada last March.
