Ford wants mandatory testing at entry points

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says a voluntary testing program has found more than two per cent of international travellers arriving at Pearson airport have COVID-19, making it crucial for the federal government to make tests mandatory at air and land border points.

He also called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ban direct flights from countries with cases of more contagious variants of the virus, and to better enforce 14-day quarantines for international travellers, including the use of isolation hotels.

“We have a very porous border now,” Ford said at Pearson, where he revealed a pilot program in place since Jan. 6 has performed more than 6,800 voluntary tests and found 146 cases, a rate of 2.3 per cent.

But with 30,000 international travellers arriving weekly at Pearson alone, that suggests 750 likely have COVID-19 and the lack of wider testing presents a “real risk,” Ford added, particularly with more contagious variants circulating worldwide and at least one already spreading in Ontario.

“It’s absolutely critical the federal government make sure it’s mandatory to get tested,” said the premier. “Until vaccines are widely available, we all need to do our part to stop the spread of this virus and that means tighter controls at our border.”

Trudeau has hinted at stronger measures, said new rules could be imposed “without warning,” cautioned Canadians to avoid non-essential travel, and noted borders have been closed since March to everyone for whom Canada is not home.

“These measures work, they’re saving lives, and that’s why our friends and allies are following suit,” he told a news conference in Ottawa, referring in part to a U.S. decision to copy Canada’s demand for negative COVID-19 tests for air travellers before they are allowed on flights into the country.

Asked why Ottawa isn’t moving immediately on further restrictions, Trudeau said officials want to avoid interrupting imports of vital goods, citing that passenger flights sometimes carry shipments.

While Canada requires incoming international travellers to have proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of their departure, Ford said the Pearson pilot program clearly shows that is not enough because the more contagious U.K. variant has arrived from somewhere without detection.