There are several reasons why the border remains closed.
1. Trachael mites are not yet ubiquitous in Canada and the breathing
space (pun intended) is giving time for development of mite resistant
bees to be scientifically developed for Canadian and North American needs.
2. Trachael mite control is expensive
3. Varroa mites are still virtually absent from Canada
4. Varroa mite control is expensive
5. The Africanized bee problem is looming large in the US and although it
is unlikely that such bees could become established in Canada as feral
colonies or in overwintered colonies, their introduction for the summers
from the US would be unwise.
 
The Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturalists has examined the
question carefully and feels strongly that the border should remain closed.
 
The benefits to Canadian beekeeping have been direct (as above) and will
continue to be so (above) and have been indirect by requiring Canadian
beekeeping to become more self-sufficient for nucleus colony production,
queen raising, and overwintering.
 
Objections to the border closure have surfaces from within Canada,
especially from western provinces, and a hint of the opinions of some
beekeepers from Alberta is given in the message by the words "still think".