The federal government has two possible paths out of the dead end at Roxham Road. The first route goes through Washington, D.C. – and is largely out of Ottawa’s hands. The second goes through Ottawa – and is entirely within Canada’s control. The best option? Pursuing both paths, simultaneously.
Taking the road through Washington means amending the 2002 Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), which currently only covers official border crossings, so it applies to the entire Canada-U.S. border. That could be as simple as adding a few words to the existing accord. But that can only happen if the Americans agree, and despite years of quiet diplomacy, they have yet to do so. Unless Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can persuade President Joe Biden to do Canada a favour, then Plan B – the road through Ottawa – may be the only open road.
