In an effort to curb the new coronavirus crisis, Canada will require all passengers entering the country by air to present a negative virus test taken within three days of arrival in Canada. But Ottawa has not yet announced when the new rules will take effect. Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said the Canada Border Services Agency will increase its presence at land borders and airports to ensure Canadians understand the new requirements.
The test must be a PCR test – considered the gold standard for testing for the new coronavirus. These tests need to be performed in a laboratory and usually take at least a day to produce results. The new regulations are expected to take effect in the next few days.
We strongly advise against travel unless absolutely necessary,” Blair said at a Dec. 30 news conference in Ottawa. If you must travel, please understand that you must follow the guidelines and be quarantined for 14 days upon your return. It’s not only the right thing to do, it’s the law. Failure to do so could result in serious consequences.”
Many have criticized Ottawa for being overly lenient with travel restrictions, and the Ontario finance minister was heavily criticized by public opinion when he also traveled abroad with his wife on a private trip on Feb. 13.
Blair stressed that the 14-day quarantine policy would not be lifted despite the new requirement to produce virus test reports. Violations of quarantine regulations could result in up to six months in jail or fines of up to $750,000, he said. Despite clear public health guidelines, there are still Canadians who leave the country for non-essential purposes,” he said. These Canadians certainly have a right to return home, but when they do, they have a legal and moral obligation to be quarantined.”
Blair acknowledged that the pre-boarding test report is not a panacea, but he said the regulation has had some effect in further preventing the spread of the virus from entering the country. Airlines will ensure that passengers are offered negative tests before boarding a flight to Canada.
Federal Conservative Health Critic Michelle Rempel Garner and Federal Conservative Public Service and Procurement Critic Pierre Paul-Hus issued a joint statement on the negative virus test report, saying, “I am pleased that the Trudeau government has finally accepted our recommendation that it will implement a virus testing requirement for international travelers returning to Canada international travelers returning to Canada. However, the lack of details on this announcement has led to panic among Canadians currently abroad, and the government has been imposing a travel embargo for months, making a casual announcement today without a realistic, well thought out and transparent plan. Canadians abroad deserve better.”
The statement asks that the government should clarify as soon as possible: when will the regulations come into effect? Will Canadians who are currently abroad have an exemption? What if Canadians who are currently abroad are unable to obtain a test in a foreign territory? Are there regulations on which type of test is required for the different types of PCR-tests? Why are airlines required to administer them? Do airlines have to come in and play an enforcement role?
The Conservatives say that some MPs have received a lot of inquiries from panicked travellers from overseas, and it is clear that there is a lot of confusion among the public and the government should clear up any doubts as soon as possible.
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