Yul_voyager

Looks like more restrictions are coming. Possibly, a supervised quarantine in hotels for anyone having to quarantine when returning from any international destination. Some provincial PMs are really pushing for it, saying we should do the same as Australia or New Zealand (doesn't matter to them that imported cases represent 100% of new cases in NZ and 2% in Canada and that the majority of travelers like those crossing the land border regularly will still be exempted).

tcook052

While nothing surprises me anymore I wouldn't expect to see such draconian steps as enforced 14-day quarantine hotel stays for all international arrivals into Canada as both Australia and N.Z. both have much easier borders with which to erect such barriers and both aimed for zero cases Canada hasn't and isn't likely to given the amount of cross-border traffic even in the midst of a pandemic.

That said, I could see certain air routes being suspended as was the case to the UK pre-Christmas as well as a more robust enforcement of arrival quarantine requirements. There is also the possibility of the government moving Canada to the current level 3 'avoid all non-essential travel' advisory to level 4 travel advisory to 'avoid all travel' which would effectively shut down all int. passenger air routes but that's a pretty big stick to wield.

TheCanuckian

Can you provide links to some sources? I'm interested in reading more about this.

Yul_voyager

Yes sure, however most of what I read about it is in French.
It's currently the headline on the Radio-Canada website (French CBC)
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle...espistage-vols
They interviewed Dominic LeBlanc (Intergovernmental Affairs minister) who said it is coming soon, probably next week.

Crampedin13A

They can have all the restrictions they want but if they don't enforce them what is the point? A man travelling from Nigeria managed to board a Delta flight on Tuesday from Detroit to Toronto with no Covid test certificate and died from Covid Wed. morning

Man reportedly dies from COVID-19 just hours after flying into Canada | Toronto Sun

tcook052

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took his "no travel" talk to a higher level today, urging Canadians to not only avoid travel to sun destinations but also within Canada.

He also said mandatory quarantines at hotels for people returning or coming to Canada - an idea floated this week by Quebec Premier Francois Legault - is an idea that's under consideration and that tougher measures could be announced early next week.

sydneyracquelle

The big problem is Canada’s current policy doesn’t enforce any quarantine at the port of entry but rather allows residents to go onward to their final destination in Canada to quarantine. So someone flying into YYZ can then fly onward to western Canada to do their quarantine.

bambinomartino

That makes sense but would be unfair to someone outside of the GTA (or a hundred mile radius) as the vast majority of international flights, especially long haul, are in and out of YYZ. People near YVR and YYC have some options, connecting via the US, but those often require multiple connections. That can be avoided with commonsense policies like Alberta's testing on arrival. For connecting passengers it could be done with inexpensive rapid tests. Yes they aren't as accurate as the "gold standard" PCR but the numbers they will miss are miniscule in the grand scheme. From tcook052's link, the article quotes the PM:

The "without warning" bit doesn't sit right with me. Same goes for doing a end run around the Charter, effectively stopping travel without an outright ban. But hey, the electorate supports it. SMH.

tcook052

While it isn't included in my previously linked article the PM has said acknowledged in recent days the charter right to travel so I can't see it being ignored with the adoption of a total int. travel ban. More restrictions, probably, but not a complete ban on all int. travel.

As Trudeau noted today, freedom of movement is a constitutional right for all Canadians, as outlined in Section 6 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms: ‘Every citizen of Canada has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada.’

sydneyracquelle

But they can make it darn difficult with mandatory covid tests within 24/48 hours of departure, mandatory covid test upon arrival, mandatory quarantine at port of entry, etc. And March Break is coming up soon.

yvrcnx

They could easily limit inter-provinical travel again and introduce testing to travel to another province and again upon return, even adding a 14 day quarantine like the Atlantic bubble is already doing.
I honestly didn't see this trend coming but nothing surprises me anymore.

Looks like 2021 is becoming 2020 on steroids.

tcook052

Yes, they can make travel even more difficult and seem intent on doing so but I wouldn't worry about March Break as I'm sure only a tiny fraction of people will be traveling this year compared to a normal year.

Error 601

Were I not in a relationship with a Canadian woman I would really be regretting not having stayed in the US back in March.

gei

Jesus this is horrible. The fear machine is really running at full strength these days. How much crazier will these restrictions get??

Nayef

Canada working with the US to close travel 'loophole'