In a press conference Monday morning with several of Canada’s federal government ministers, Canadians and Canada’s travel industry finally learned the date of the first phase of what Ottawa has called a ‘phased reopening’ of our borders.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu said that, beginning 05 JUL, fully vaxxed travellers who are permitted to enter Canada will be exempt from hotel quarantines and Day 8 COVID-19 tests.
They will still need pre- and on arrival testing.
For arriving Canadians who are not fully vaccinated, there are no changes to testing or quarantines.
She advised Canadian travellers, if they are coming into Canada, to plan in advance, including by ensuring they meet provincial and territorial requirements.
And she assured Canadians that more border requirements will be eased as vaccination rates continue to rise.
New Airport and Arrival Processes
Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair advised that eligible Canadians must submit vaccination information and proof using the ArriveCan App before arriving at the border.
And he restated Ottawa’s earlier warning that at this first phase of border reopening, no exemptions will be permitted for foreign nationals attempting to enter for non-essential purposes, including U.S. citizens.
Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transportation, did give one small consolation to pax on their way to Canada, regardless of vax status.
Ottawa is exempting air travellers from pre-boarding temperature screening - the minister says, to allow airline staff to focus on other requirements - and also to make the travel process more streamlined and allow pax to spend less time in airports.
To ensure the smooth movement of vaxxed and non-vaxxed travellers, the minister of Transport says Ottawa is working with airlines and airports to create separate lines for those two categories of travellers, so that they can be assigned to the appropriate screening points more quickly and smoothly.
Flight Ban to India Renewed; Not Pakistan’s
The minister of Transport also announced Ottawa is renewing its flight ban to India through 21JUL, and that it is not renewing the similar ban between Canada and Pakistan - although testing will be required.
Phase 2
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc provided more insight into the government’s plans for future phases.
Although he didn’t indicate how long this first phase of the phased reopening of Canada’s border would last, he said that all other, “restrictions will remain in place until at least 21JUL.”
He implied the next phase would involve permitting fully vaccinated foreign nationals to enter, “in the coming months.”
Government ministers praised Canadians for their efforts to get vaccinated and maintain COVID-19 protocols, and said more easing of travel and border restrictions are to come.
And in the worlds of Alghabra, Ottawa hopes, “to have more to share with you soon.”
