Those crossing the Canadian-U.S. border during the COVID-19 pandemic have seen a lot of changes.

At one time or another, travelers could expect vaccination requirements, pre-entry testing or quarantine necessities.

Starting this weekend, restrictions of all kinds are being lifted.

The Canadian government announced on Monday that COVID-19 border and travel measures will be lifted on Oct. 1. Travelers will no longer have to submit public health information using ArriveCAN, provide proof of vaccination, undergo COVID testing or have to isolate or quarantine due to COVID.

They also won't have to go through health checks for travel through air or rail, nor will they have to wear masks on planes and trains. Cruise measures will also be lifted.

Elected officials across Western New York are pleased with the lifting of all the requirements, saying it couldn't have come at a better time.

"With the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday coming up, the American Thanksgiving holiday coming up, and then of course Christmas and other holidays in December — for a couple years now, families have been separated for this reason, so this will allow them once again to get back together after quite some time," said Robert Restaino, (D) City of Niagara Falls mayor.

Restaino says as the conditions were eased across the last several months, New York has started to see more Canadian visitors.

"So I think once this happens, I think we're going to see far more travel into the United States from Canada," said Restaino.

Rep. Brian Higgins, NY-26, says it's about time the restrictions are lifted.

"We're at the point where vaccines are readily available, widely distributed. Testing is available via therapeutics and it's time to get back to a sense of normalcy,” said Higgins (D), who is up for re-election, facing Republican candidate Steven Sams.

Higgins is also calling for the U.S. to follow Canada's lead.

"The United States should remove the vaccine requirements and all other requirements,” he said. “We want lifted all COVID restrictions. We've come a long way since the beginning of the pandemic. We're still not out of it but we are in a management mode. The severity of the illness is significantly reduced. The time of the illness … is significantly reduced.”

While masks will no longer be required on planes or trains, the Canadian government still strongly recommends them. The government is also reminding people that they should not travel if they have any COVID symptoms.