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The Canadian government has warned that potential new travel restrictions will seriously impede Canadians ability to return home.
Measures could include a mandatory hotel quarantine that is supervised by police.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday his government will do what it takes to protect Canadian citizens and the restrictions will “significantly impede” Canadians returning home including the cost of hotel quarantine.
Trudeau said Friday that such measures could be imposed without notice and warned Canadians to not travel abroad.
“Let me be very clear: Nobody should be taking a vacation abroad right now. If you’ve got one planned, cancel it – and don’t book a trip for spring break. We need to hang on and hold tight for the next few months, and get through to the spring in the best shape possible,” Justin Trudeau Tweeted.
The warning comes amid recent variants of the virus that emerged in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. The variants are reported to be more contagious and cause more hospitalizations and deaths.
Dr Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto said that a hotel quarantine for Canadians returning from abroad is long past due.
“It’s inconvenient for the travelers, but we’re in a pandemic,” Morris said. It’s late. It’s months late.”
Canadian returning home could face quarantine costs that run into the thousands of dollars which would essentially shut down all non-essential travel without having to introduce a controversial travel ban.
Legal experts have said that a travel ban would violate Canadians mobility rights guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter states that “Every citizen of Canada has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada.”
Johanne Poirier, a McGill University law professor said that those right could be limited, if the limitation is justified, reasonable and proportionate. Given the worldwide pandemic, the courts may be willing to side with the government in unprecedented times.
Canada Already Has Some Of The Strictest Border Measures In The World
Canada already has banned foreigners from entering the country for non-essential travel by land, air and sea. Canadians returning home must show proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test before boarding their flight home and self-quarantine for 14 days.
Trudeau said earlier in the week that he will not close the border to Canadians because the Constitution protects their right to enter the country.
Canadians will always be able to return home but the restrictions they face upon return will persuade others considering international travel to cancel their plans.
With Canadians having to provide a negative covid-19 test, quarantine for 14 days and now potentially a supervised hotel quarantine at their own cost would make taking a vacation almost impossible for the majority of Canadians.
Trudeau has been warning Canadians that travel restrictions could change without notice for the last week. The warning could be giving time for Canadians that are abroad to make their way home before new measures are announced.
The Canada and U.S. land border has been closed to all non-essential traffic since the beginning of the pandemic but Canadians are currently free to travel abroad by air, including to the United States.
Recent measures announced by the Biden administration may also stop the flow of travel as the U.S. now requires proof of a negative Covid-19 test and recently announced a mandatory quarantine for all travelers arriving from abroad.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
hawktomatophobos18966
Wednesday 27th of January 2021
Plenty of room at the hotel quarantinia..such a lovely place, such a lovely place..On a serious note, this seems logical that taxpayers would need to pay extra for services or amentities we dont need. What if you already live alone, and already live in a hotel..then what?
NO
Wednesday 27th of January 2021
I'm currently outside Canada and staying with my family. I'm going back to Canada in 5 weeks. I really hope it will not happen in the near future and they care about people who are already outside for a good reason as they may not be taking a vacation.
Jay Aneja
Tuesday 26th of January 2021
Hotel quarantine upon your return is one measured being considered by the government. This is not official yet- this could be implemented in the next few weeks. My friend go and visit your wife and if you have to hotel quarantine upon your return, so be it ! Catch up on some Netflix series and enjoy your solitude !
Michael
Sunday 24th of January 2021
Welcome to tyranny. Enjoy it because it’s here to stay
Leon
Sunday 24th of January 2021
How will this work for me a Canadian citizen living in Canada if I need to go see my wife who is Spanish and resides in Spain ? In the past all I needed was 14 day quarantine on the return home from seeing my wife, and a pcr test. Which are acceptable to me.
But now , I don’t want to be held up in a hotel for 14 days , is this official ? Who can I contact for exemption here in Canada ?
Kashlee Kucheran
Sunday 24th of January 2021
This has not been made official as of yet