Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that entry into Canada will be denied to individuals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada; exceptions are also being made for U.S. citizens, immediate family members of citizens, and others. The Prime Minister also reiterated the need for Canadian travellers to return to Canada. Based on this guidance, the Canadian Snowbird Association is recommending that members heed the advice of the federal government and make arrangements to return home as soon as it is feasible.
The Prime Minister also announced that any travellers, who are symptomatic, regardless of citizenship, will not be permitted to board a flight into Canada. He noted that airline operators will now be permitted to block individuals with symptoms from boarding planes. The Government of Canada will be establishing a financial support program in order to assist Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning home. We will provide more detailed information on this program as it becomes available.
While some international flights are being re-directed to four Canadian airports (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal), these measures are not being applied to domestic flights, or flights originating from the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
The CSA is advising members to contact their travel medical insurance provider as soon as possible in order to determine whether their insurer is requiring them to return home within 10 days.
The Government of Canada is advising that all travellers returning home to Canada need to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. Further, if you develop a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing within 14 days of returning you should immediately contact a health care professional or public health authority.
As information is being updated frequently, the CSA recommends that members review the information found here in order to access timely updates and travel notices from the Government of Canada related to COVID-19.
We will continue to provide members with the latest information on COVID-19 and its impact on Canadian travellers.
