Snowbirds call for changes to ‘punitive’ restrictions

MONTREAL — Montreal snowbirds who winter in Florida say they should be exempt from new quarantine rules when they return home because most will have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

“The vaccinated snowbirds returning from the U.S. with negative COVID-19 tests will be the safest people in town,” said Susan Raymer, who has been down south since December.

Because all travellers have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test before boarding a flight to Canada, it makes more sense to give vaccinated snowbirds a rapid test at Trudeau airport and allow them to quarantine for 14 days at home, Raymer said in an interview.

“They can monitor us either through our cell phone or use a prisoner’s ankle bracelet,” she said.

Several snowbirds emailed their Members of Parliament on Friday to express displeasure over new travel restrictions they say are punitive.

All travellers flying back to Canada will soon have to pay about $2,000 for a hotel stay of up to three days while they await the result of a COVID-19 PCR test. The fee will cover lodging, food, a COVID test and security.

Snowbirds who are planning to drive home will also have to provide proof they had a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of arriving at the border. They will not be required to take a second test and can quarantine at home for 14 days.

“They don’t want to have to pay that $2,000,” said Denise Dumont, editor of Le Soleil de la Floride, a newspaper that caters to Quebec snowbirds.