Travellers happy to hear border restrictions easing
Some suggest announcement will serve as incentive for people to get vaccinated
Travellers at Trudeau Airport were enthused about the federal government's decision Monday to ease restrictions for people entering Canada.
Justin Trudeau's government announced Monday that as of Aug. 9, residents of the U.S. will be allowed into Canada for non-essential travel if they are fully vaccinated with one of the four vaccines approved in this country. Then on Sept. 7, Canada will open its borders to people from all over the world, as long as they are fully vaccinated.
“More people will be ready to go take the vaccine and I think that's a very good thing for everybody,” said Cheikh Mbacke, who was flying to Senegal Monday for work. “My brother is in the U.S. and since he came to the U.S. last December, I was not able to bring him clothes. He's from Africa. I wasn't able to go bring him stuff that he might need to survive the winter. Now he's good but I think it would be a good feeling to see him back again and spend some time with him. He could just come to Canada to visit me and stay at my place for a little while if he wants to.”
The two brothers are both fully vaccinated.
“For those people who are against the vaccine, I think that's some motivation that will make them reconsider their choice if they want to come into Canada,” said Mbacke.
Themy Del Campo also feels the new rules are a step in the right direction.
“It's good for all the people,” said Del Campo. “I have a lot of friends who wanted to come here to Canada but they can't fly (here) ... (this is) better.”
Borhan Mousavi, an Iranian who is studying engineering at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, said the loosening of the regulations will help international students.
“If they have two shots of vaccination, I don't think it will be dangerous,” said Mousavi. “I couldn't see my family just because of these restrictions. So that (will) be very good for me. It's good for people like me who couldn't go back to my country and see my family.”
Hissin Rabib said the new rule changes are good because it will encourage people to get fully vaccinated and it will allow his family from Morocco to come visit him in Canada.
“I think that's good,” said Rabib, who noted that previously it could be very expensive for people coming into Canada because they'd have to pay for a hotel while they were quarantining.