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The government has faced a number of criticisms, including from the Liberal Group, about current travel restrictions and mandates for COVID-19.
Publication date:
June 10, 2022 • 1 hour ago • 4 minutes reading • 210 comments Traveler
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OTTAWA – With growing airport delays and growing pressure from their own ranks to lift travel restrictions due to COVID-19, Trudeau’s Liberals backed down slightly on Friday, ending random airport tests.
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There were few details, but the government said in a statement that it would suspend random tests at airports, starting on Saturday and continuing until the end of the month.
A press release says tests, including for unvaccinated passengers, will take place off-site from July 1st.
A source speaking in the background, as they were not authorized to speak in public, said details of off-site testing were being developed, but current plans would not require passengers to simply line up elsewhere, but instead give them time to complete testing. .
Airports, especially Pearson International in Toronto, have been overcrowded in recent weeks as Canadians return to vacation abroad after a long pandemic. But the increase in passengers has overwhelmed customs and security checks, leading to hours of delays, missed or canceled flights and growing frustration.
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Transport Minister Omar Algabra has faced a series of criticisms of his government’s inaction, with politicians, industry groups and airlines calling on the government to lift the restrictions.
Earlier this week, Algabra said he understood the pressure from airports and the government was hiring more security inspectors and other staff to help. He said he was constantly reviewing existing mandates, but made no commitment on when they could be withdrawn.
“I can tell you that these examinations and re-examinations are carried out on a daily basis, and when we consider it the right time to take and correct our measures, we will do so.
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The current mandates expire at the end of the month, but the government can renew them.
Customs officials now have to check COVID-19 vaccinations, which increases delays and leads to longer processing times for passengers. Canada currently requires travelers to complete their vaccine information in the Arrive Can app 72 hours before arrival.
The Canadian government requires passengers to be vaccinated with at least two doses of a recognized vaccine before arriving or facing a two-week quarantine.
Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr Teresa Tam, said on Friday that two doses were no longer enough to protect people.
“Two doses are not enough to make the vaccine effective against Omicron,” she said. “You need a booster, or rather a third dose, to restore that immunity.”
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The United States suspended its requirement to test COVID-19 for arriving passengers on Friday, but there is still a mandate for a vaccine for non-US citizens. Many other countries have lifted all their restrictions on COVID, while some still have strict rules.
The National Post confirmed reports for the first time in the Hill Times that a majority of Liberal MPs were pushing for the government to end travel mandates, especially for vaccines.
“If it is not unanimous, it is very close,” said one member of the Liberals’ opposition group against the current travel vaccine mandate. All members of the group were given anonymity so that they could discuss internal discussions.
“We have two choices, either to abolish travel vaccine mandates or to adjust them to require a third or fourth dose of vaccine. There is no one or almost no one in the group who thinks it is a good idea to increase the number of doses as part of the mandate.
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“I think the best word is disappointment,” said another MP, who asked not to remain anonymous to discuss the group’s internal discussions. “People are getting a little restless.”
The MP said that the Liberals do not get better explanations inside the group than the government gives outside the group as to why the mandates are still needed. They said voters were disappointed that they or their loved ones could not travel due to restrictions, and Liberal lawmakers had been raising the issue for weeks.
They said it was difficult to explain the need for the rules, as other states and provinces were renouncing their mandate.
“How can we justify keeping people at home?” Anonymous deputies asked.
Many lawmakers said there was widespread support for maintaining the rules on masks and acknowledging that some rules may need to be returned if the pandemic escalates in the autumn. But they expected more announcements to come before the end of the month to ease health restrictions and mandates for COVID-19.
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“There are concerns about managing a possible seventh wave in the autumn and continuing to be a responsible government that makes the right decisions about people’s health and wants to avoid over-clogging health systems,” he said. “But that only works when the provinces are on board.”
Conservatives have jumped on media reports about Liberal discontent. They again questioned the government about travel restrictions related to COVID-19 at the House of Commons on Friday.
“With each passing day, it is becoming increasingly clear that these mandates and restrictions have nothing to do with science or evidence-based decision-making. It’s all about control, “said MP John Brasard.
“It’s about the Prime Minister controlling Canadians not traveling to see their families, controlling COVID’s rebuilding business, and controlling liberal MPs by forcing them to be small actors in his COVID theater.
In response, Parliamentary Health Secretary and Liberal MP Adam van Coverden accused conservatives of “denying” the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While we are in a much better place today than we were before, this pandemic is not over and we must be prepared for any potential future scenarios,” he said. “Our government will continue to assess the evolving situation at home and around the world, monitor data and adjust border measures as needed.
Twitter: RyanTumilty Email: rtumilty@postmedia.com
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