Toronto –
Robin Skrepnik says she thought the suspension of the federal government’s mandate on the domestic and outbound vaccine would finally allow her to use an $ 800 airline loan for a summer trip abroad.
But even after the new rules went into effect on Monday, Skrepnik doesn’t think he’s moving too far away from his home in Edmonton any time soon.
The 14-day quarantine, unvaccinated Canadians must be completed after re-entering the country, proved unbearable for the international escape Skrepnik had hoped for, she said. Although she is allowed to travel more freely within Canada, Skrepnik said there are no domestic destinations she would like to fly to.
“I may have four weeks off work, but I can’t take three weeks off at once to go on a one-week vacation abroad,” said Skrepnik, who chose not to get vaccinated. “I guess I’ll just take my vacation and stay home, and hopefully, damn it, I can get my money back.”
Although experts expect that easing travel rules in Canada will benefit the domestic tourism sector, they note that continued requirements for unvaccinated Canadians crossing the border may limit their ability to roam abroad.
The vaccine mandate was lifted on Monday for local passengers on passenger planes, trains and buses. Employees of federally regulated airlines and airports are also allowed to return to work after being put on unpaid leave due to their vaccination status.
Unvaccinated Canadians traveling abroad must still be quarantined for 14 days after their return. They must also be tested for COVID-19 before the flight, on arrival and on the eighth day of quarantine. The daily self-assessments of COVID-19 must be carried out through the ArriveCan application, and screening staff can check by email, telephone or during visits.
Meanwhile, most foreigners who have not been stabbed remain barred from entering.
Marty Firestone, president of Travel Secure, insures that regulatory changes will lead to a dramatic increase in domestic travel as many unvaccinated Canadians seek to explore their own country.
While this is good news for Canada’s pandemic tourism industry, this new segment of eligible pilots could worsen airport congestion, Firestone said.
He worries that quarantine and test requirements in particular will complicate and complicate long queues at customs.
“I think it will confuse things even more,” he said. “They did something strange, allowing you to leave unvaccinated, but unchanged on your return. It will be a nightmare waiting to happen. “
Government officials have repeatedly said that COVID-19 restrictions are not to blame for airport congestion and flight delays, insisting that all audits were made in the public health interest and not in favor of travel.
“While the suspension of local vaccine mandates reflects the improved public health situation in Canada, the COVID-19 virus continues to develop and circulate in Canada and worldwide,” Canadian Public Health Agency spokeswoman Tammy Jarbo said in an email.
“Given this context, and as vaccination levels and virus control in other countries vary considerably, current border vaccination requirements remain in place.”
Unvaccinated passengers must also keep in mind the restrictions at the border of their destination, said Richard Vanderlube, CEO of Tripcentral.ca.
Entry requirements for unvaccinated visitors, such as mandatory testing for COVID-19, in other countries are often complex and subject to change in the short term, Vanderlube said.
He said the agency has dedicated much of its marketing budget to informing customers about these rules. But in the foreseeable future, Vanderlube said, it may be wise to choose the most flexible option when organizing the trip, instead of following the lowest fare.
“This should be a more thoughtful purchase than in the past,” he said. “But certainly nothing has changed for vaccinated Canadians. And there are more opportunities for unvaccinated Canadians.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 21, 2022.
____
What questions do you have about the travel rules against the background of COVID-19?
CTVNews.ca wants to hear Canadians with all kinds of questions.
Tell us what you’d like to know when it comes to entering or leaving Canada.
To send your question, send us an email to dotcom@bellmedia.ca with your name, location and question. Your comments can be used in the history of CTVNews.ca.
Add Comment