Canada may announce new changes to travel restrictions as early as next week. Health Minister, Yves Duclos indicated this in February 11 COVID update. These new changes are expected to be more on easing of current restrictions in place.
Minister said, “With the worst of omicron now behind us, our government is actively reviewing the measures in place at our borders. We should be able to communicate changes on this, next week, with the support and the advice of the team of Dr. Tam. We would all like to know for sure what the next few weeks and months have in store for us.”
“But after two years of this pandemic, we know that this virus will always find a way to surprise us. We know that the question is not whether there will be other waves or variants, but rather whenever. The last few days we have all heard the phrase, we have to live with the virus. We all agree that we have to learn to live with the virus.” he added
Apart from this, Federal government has been repeatedly saying in the House of Commons that most of the restrictions are provincial, not federal. Following this, Alberta and Saskatchewan announced removal of vaccine mandate and presented plan for removal of all the restrictions including masking. Manitoba and Ontario has also indicated that they will be laying out plan to end current COVID restrictions.
Pressure By Opposition To Remove Travel Restrictions
Conservatives (Opposition) has raised the question to Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau that why he is not laying out a plan for removing travel restrictions in alignment with rest of the world. Also given the situation that Canada has one of the highest portion of vaccinated population, Feds should now end most of the COVID mandates. OR PM is expecting 100% of Canadian population to be fully vaccinated before considering the removal of COVID restrictions.
Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney also called on Trudeau government to remove federal restrictions on international travel. He specifically asked to remove 72-hour pre-departure testing, arrivals testing and isolation, and quarantining for kids under 5.
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