Saskatchewan shortchanged, minister says
Saskatchewan airports excluded from welcoming back international flights
A Saskatchewan cabinet minister says the federal government's plan to welcome American travellers gives the province short shrift.
Saskatchewan's tourism industry breathed a sigh of relief on Monday when federal officials declared fully vaccinated Americans can once again enter Canada for leisure purposes without having to quarantine, starting Aug. 9.
Businesses hope it will restart an important part of the province's tourism sector that was cut off by COVID -19.
Jeremy Harrison, minister responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan, said he is “disappointed” by the timeline of the measures and the fact Saskatchewan is one of just a few provinces whose airports will not be able to welcome flights from abroad.
“We're one of the only jurisdictions in Canada now that does not have an airport that will be directly accessible for international flights,” Harrison said.
In February, the federal government imposed restrictions funnelling foreign flights into airports in Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto. On Monday, the government said it would expand that exemption to airports in Winnipeg, Halifax, Quebec City, Edmonton and Ottawa, but not Saskatoon or Regina.
Harrison, who said he and Premier Scott Moe raised the issue with federal officials, worries it will be another blow to an outfitting industry dependant on American cash. He said the provincial government quietly submitted a plan to pilot a reopening of the land border four weeks ago, and has also not received a response to that request, which he says is important for many communities in the province's south.
“We get no answer, we get no heads up, no notice, and Saskatchewan again is not being treated fairly,” Harrison said.
A spokesman for Health Canada said the federal department would not be able to provide comment on why Saskatchewan's airports were not included before publication deadline on Monday.
Businesses were nonetheless celebrating at the prospect of American tourists once again hunting, camping and spending money in Saskatchewan. Battle River Outfitters operator Rick Albert, whose business is located on Sweetgrass First Nation near North Battleford, estimated as many as 90 per cent of his clients were American before the border was closed in March 2020.
“They spend money on hotels and restaurants and stuff like that. Everyone kind of benefits from it. It's a big, big industry,” he said.
“The timing couldn't be more perfect.”
Jim Bence, president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association, was also pleased the border is finally cracking open.
“We would've liked to have seen this sooner for sure, but at this point we'll take what we can get,” he said. It's “unfathomable” that direct flights from the United States to Saskatchewan would not be possible, he added.
Regina Airport president and CEO James Bogusz said he had also been in touch with the federal government, hoping the restrictions on international flights would be lifted. He said it was crucial to have that confidence as major airlines look to plan fall and winter flights in and out of the Queen City.
The airport's traffic has more than tripled in July as the province dropped public health measures but is still floating around 35 per cent of normal levels, meaning many laid-off staff have yet to be recalled, he noted.
“We'll literally move mountains if needed to accommodate international travel.”
On Sweetgrass First Nation, Albert is excited to welcome guests — assuming they're vaccinated.
“I've had a couple cancellations now because (clients) don't want to get the vaccination,” Albert said. “I guess it's their choice. No one is forcing anyone to get a shot. But I think that's the criteria. If you don't have your up-to-date, fully vaccinated shots, there's probably no getting through the border.”
Saskatchewan reported 16 cases of COVID-19 and 37 recoveries on Monday, as well as 2,704 new vaccinations. There were 262 known active cases and 55 people in hospital, including nine in intensive care.
We get no answer, we get no heads up, no notice.