Deer Lake man’s appeal of travel ban denied
DEER LAKE — Kevin Langdon is seeking legal advice after being denied entrance into Newfoundland and Labrador, and said he will consider suing the province if he can.
Langdon is originally from Deer Lake and has been living in Hanley, Sask., for three years. A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Langdon had planned to come home with his family this summer. It was to be their first trip home in seven years.
The COVID-19 pandemic and a ban on travellers from other parts of the country coming into Newfoundland and Labrador has put a stop to that plan.
Earlier this week, Langdon told Saltwire Network that he filed an application for an exemption to the travel ban as soon as he found out about it. That application was denied, and Langdon appealed it.
On Thursday, Langdon emailed Saltwire Network to say his appeal had been denied.
“I am devastated,” he said. “And extremely angry.
“I believe the evidence doesn't support the ban and I am being discriminated against for being in Saskatchewan and not Newfoundland and Labrador, or an Atlantic province.”
The response for reconsideration of the travel ban came from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
In it, Langdon is told the reason for his travel does not fall within current exemption criteria and it is unknown, at this time, what travel restrictions may be in place in the coming weeks and months.
Langdon, his wife, Lindsay, and children, Noelle and Jason, had been planning to leave Saskatchewan on July 6 and drive to Newfoundland. He said he reviewed all the cases and geographical areas along his planned route and can't fathom why these restrictions still apply.
The response from the province says, “As you can appreciate, the chief medical officer of health is continuously evaluating the travel restrictions as the prevalence of COVID-19 evolves elsewhere in Canada. The provinces in which you will be travelling continue to have a higher incidence of the virus.”
The response also says the office understands that these restrictions are difficult, but they are in place to mitigate against the importation of the coronavirus into the province.
“Newfoundland and Labrador has an aging population and a high incidence of chronic disease, which makes its population vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. The travel restrictions are in place to protect the health of the population.”
The response also encourages him to consider deferring his travel and reapplying for an exemption later in the summer.
But Langdon said that won't happen.
In order to make his travel plans for this year, he had to forgo vacation in July and August last year. That way other staff were able to take more time in those months and agreed for Langdon to be able to take a longer time this year.
He said due to allotted vacation time for both he and his wife and the amount of time needed, it just won't be possible to change their plans.