Snowbirds in pandemic hot seat with Canada’s latest travel rules

VANCOUVER

The latest rules for travellers arriving in Canada are ruffling feathers among snowbirds wintering south of the border, while those who stayed home wonder why thousands opted to travel during the pandemic.

Valorie Crooks, Canada research chair in health service geographies, said everyone has had access to the same public health information and snowbirds who flocked south “did what they felt was allowable.”

There is no ban on travel and snowbirds don’t think of themselves as vacationers, said Crooks, a professor at Simon Fraser University who’s done research for years with snowbird communities in Florida and Arizona.

“They’re viewing this as part of their life or lifestyle,” she said, noting snowbirds relocate for extended periods of time and they’re used to factoring health considerations into their decisionmaking.

Some snowbirds feel late government communication on travel during the pandemic has left them hanging, said Crooks, as stricter requirements come into force in days ahead for anyone arriving in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week that anyone arriving in Canada by land must soon present recent negative COVID-19 test results. Those without the requisite test results could be fined up to $3,000.

Travellers arriving by air have been required to show the results of a molecular (PCR) test no more than three days old since last month.

The Canadian Snowbird Association has decried an added requirement that air travellers take a second test upon arrival and stay in a hotel for around three days while awaiting results, with a potential price tag of $2,000 each.

In a recent letter to the federal transportation minister, president Karen Huestis wrote the cost of the hotel stay poses financial hardship for many and travellers who test negative should be able to quarantine in their homes.

Those arriving in Canada by land won’t be required to quarantine in a hotel.

The government announced Friday the new testing and quarantine measures will start Feb. 22. Air travellers will be ushered into hotels near one of the four Canadian airports currently accepting international flights in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. Hotels had until Wednesday to apply to be among those on a list inbound passengers may choose from.

The prospect of quarantining in a hotel sent some snowbirds flying back to Canada early, while others take their chances or extend their southern stays.

Dr. Morley Rubinoff, 71, said he left his condo in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, about six weeks early this year to avoid what he called “hotel hell.”

The semi-retired dental specialist said he arrived in Mexico on Dec. 31 and planned to stay until midMarch before returning to Toronto.

Rubinoff said he wore a mask “constantly” and had very little contact with anyone while in Mexico, setting him apart from tourists at nearby resorts.

“We’re not the same,” he said, adding he has permanent residency in Mexico.

Rubinoff said he believes the latest travel rules are mainly aimed at preventing short trips by vacationers over holidays in February and March, while snowbirds should be recognized as a distinct group.