Reports are circulating the federal government plans to drop all COVID-19 requirements for travellers entering the country by the end of September. .The change will coincide with the government's end of random testing on arrival into the country and makes the use of the ArriveCan app optional, according to reports from the Globe and Mail. .Although it's reported the requirements will lift as of September 30, four unnamed sources have told the Globe and Mail, details have not yet been finalized by cabinet. .According to two sources, masking will remain for the time being for people in transit on trains and planes at the direction of Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. .Proof of vaccination is still required for anyone travelling to the US and it is not known whether that policy will be lifted at the same time as Canada's. .The federal government announced it was suspending its COVID-19 vaccination requirements for domestic and outbound travellers on June 20. Vaccine mandates were also dropped at that time for all federal employees and those working in federally regulated industries. .The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has been calling for the government to drop all COVID-19 related travel restrictions for months. .“Canada has become a total outlier in managing COVID-19 and travel," said Peter Cerda, IATA’s Regional Vice President for the Americas.."While governments across the globe are rolling back restrictions, the Government of Canada is reinstating them. The Government should follow the lead of its peers, including, for example, Australia. While that country had some of the toughest travel restrictions during the height of the pandemic, it has now lifted these, including the vaccination requirement."."Rather than following this example and enabling travel and tourism to recover, those in power in Canada believe that throwing more red tape at the pandemic is the way forward." .In July, Australia dropped all remaining pandemic related entry rules. As of July 6, travellers no longer needed to test for COVID-19 or show proof of vaccination to enter the country. .On September 13, New Zealand dropped all its COVID-19 travel restrictions, including testing and vaccine requirements. .More to come...
