Originally Posted by
lcohen999
I was hoping to find some clarification from this group on Canadians going and coming back into Canada for work related reasons.
I do work in an industry that is deemed essential (at least stateside) in IT. I may need to go down to visit some customers but have obviously have been dragging my feet on the subject.
It is my understanding that being in IT and working for an essential business should be enough to skip the 14 day quarantine upon return. (for anyone to say anything, I would take it upon myself to get a COVID test immediately upon returning). I am just wondering how it would all work and what is required.
The act is clear as mud and I am just trying to plan for that eventuality
If you look back over previous posts including some by me, you'll see some discussion on what it takes for a business traveler to obtain an exemption to the general requirement for a 14-day quarantine on return to Canada. As you note, in practical terms the Act is "clear as mud" and this is likely because it is not possible to foresee all possible justifications for an exemption.
As a business traveler returning to Canada your most likely avenue to avoid quarantine is to make the case that you are providing "essential services". The key here is that the services in question should be essential to your employer's business (I verified that with Health Canada before I accepted an assignment that requires me to travel outside of Canada every month). Therefore, your first step should be to obtain a letter from your company's HR department confirming that the work you carry out is essential to their business.
In addition, I think you should be tested as frequently as possible for C19 (PCR, the nasal swab test) including before you return to Canada, if that is possible. Have your test certificates with you when you re-enter Canada.
And should be careful at the kiosk in the arrivals area of the airport NOT to acknowledge that you will be quarantined for two weeks, in order to support your claim for an exemption.
Once you've done all this, it's up to the CBSA officer admitting you into the country to make the call. And it's a crap shoot (so far, I'm 50/50 in terms of obtaining the exemption). You can certainly help yourself by keeping cool and being prepared to demonstrate why you don't pose an unacceptable risk to public health if you're not quarantined. Are you going to head straight out to a party with friends in a bar upon your return? Probably not. So make it clear that you take C19 seriously and that you are doing everything possible to mitigate your risk of being infected and to protect others from you in the event you are infected.
I think the Canadian government recognizes that with or without C19, life goes on and some international business travel is necessary. In your case, if you're visiting clients outside the country, your travel is doubly necessary in order to help Canada weather the economic storm that is coming.
Good luck!