Newfoundland and Labrador could see the economic benefits if St. Pierre et Miquelon joins the Atlantic Bubble.
On April 1, the President of the territorial council for St. Pierre-Miquelon, Bernard Briand addressed a letter to the Prefect asking them to present a unified request to join the Atlantic Bubble alongside this province.
If permitted to do so, there are lots of upsides for the province. That’s according to Chris Sheppard, the executive director for Legendary Coasts—the tourism destination management organization for rural eastern Newfoundland.
Sheppard says that not only will the Burin Peninsula see increased tourism from residents of the French territory, but also from the other Atlantic provinces. He says it’s important to remember that anyone from the Maritimes travelling to the French archipelago will have to go through the province first, which will benefit eastern Newfoundland.
However, Sheppard says the biggest upside may be the effect on mental health the open border would have.
He says many Newfoundlanders are feeling confined, so it will be healthy for people to experience a different culture and get that sense of control over travel again.