Canada loosens border to travellers
Halifax Stanfield International Airport and the rest of Canada will open to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents living in the U.S., starting Aug. 9 — and Canada plans to reopen the border to international travellers on Sept. 7.
Travellers will have to submit proof of vaccination on the Arrivecan app or online portal. They must also provide results of a COVID19 test taken within 72 hours prior to entering Canada and be asymptomatic upon arrival.
Travellers must also carry a paper or digital copy of their vaccination documentation in English or French or via a certified translation to show a government official, if requested.
Travellers will not be forced to quarantine, but they must have a 14 day quarantine plan ready. The three-night government authorized hotel stay requirement will be eliminated for all travellers arriving by air from the U.S., starting Aug. 9.
Outside the Stanfield airport on Tuesday afternoon, taxi driver Darshan Virk was waiting at the front of the line to pick up a fare. Virk, who is the president of the United Cab Drivers Association of Halifax, says the pandemic has been a very difficult time for drivers.
"People are really struggling to make a living," he said.
Virk says the average wait for drivers to pick up a fare at the airport from March 2020 until the end of June was around eight hours. He's hoping the impending return of international travellers will help.
"It will improve after a lot of people get vaccinated and travel," he said. "Right now. it's not easy. A lot of people have left (the profession.) We'll see what happens."
Unvaccinated children will also not be required to quarantine, but they must wear a mask and cannot participate in group activities, including summer camps. It remains unclear whether unvaccinated children will be prevented from going to tourist attractions, since there is no requirement for the attraction owners to monitor visitors.
Transport Canada Minister Omar Alghabra said the change is due to relatively low COVID-19 cases and high vaccination rates in Canada.
“Thanks to the incredible progress that Canadians have made in our fight against the pandemic, we are now able to take the next step in Canada's gradual reopening of the border. We look forward to welcoming fully vaccinated Americans shortly, followed by travellers from the rest of the world in early September,” said Alghabra.
“Not only will this make a big difference for Canada's travel and tourism industry and all those whose jobs depend on it, it will also make it easier for those with a Confirmation of Permanent Residence letter to come to Canada and play a role in our recovery from the pandemic.”
Ottawa will increase the number of airports that can receive international flights on Aug. 9. They will include Halifax Stanfield International Airport, and the airports in Québec City, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton. Currently, international flights, including those from the U.S. may only land in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Calgary.
A person who submits false information on vaccination status could be liable to a fine of up to $750,000 or six months imprisonment or both, under the Quarantine Act, or prosecution under the Criminal Code for forgery.
Violating any quarantine or isolation instructions provided to travellers by a screening officer or quarantine officer when entering Canada is also an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to a $5,000 fine for each day of non-compliance or more serious penalties, including six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.