Canada will not reopen for international tourism for at least one more month as the current restrictions were extended until September 30th, 2020.
Minister of Public Safety, Bill Blair announced the update on his twitter, Friday afternoon.
Our government is extending the existing restrictions on international travel to Canada by one month – until September 30, 2020 – to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in our communities. (1/2)
— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) August 28, 2020
Blair stated the extension was to “limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in our community”.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada are exempt from the restrictions but face strict 14 day quarantines upon returning home.
Canada originally closed its borders back in March to all non-citizens and non essential travelers. Trudeau said “Canada will be denying entry to people who are not Canadian citizens, or permanent residents.”
5 months later with the pandemic dragging on and cases increasing in parts of Canada, the border will remain closed to foreign tourism until at least September 30th.
The closure of the land border to all non-essential traffic between the United States and Canada has also been extended until at least September 21st.
The agreement, as it stands, exempts the flow of trade and commerce, as well as temporary foreign workers and vital health-care workers who live and work on opposite sides of the border.
Exemptions are also made for Americans transiting to Alaska.
As of June 9th exemptions were made for foreign nationals who are immediate family members of either Canadian citizens or permanent residents are permitted entry into Canada.
This has allowed both foreign and cross-border Canada-U.S. families to reunite under strict regulations including having to self quarantine in Canada.
Although the Canadian Government has issued an “avoid all non essential” global travel advisory, Canadians are free to leave and return to the country for any reason including tourism.
Many Canadian passengers have still been traveling to the United States as there are currently no restrictions on Canadians arriving by air for non-essential travel.
On the other hand, U.S. citizens traveling for non-essential reasons are not permitted to travel to Canada by either land or air.
All Canadians returning home must quarantine for a minimum of 14 days under the Canada Quarantine Act. Those caught violating quarantines can face harsh penalties including fines up to $750,000 and even jail time.
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Jane
Tuesday 6th of October 2020
My bf live in Canada and I live in the uk and I still can’t go vist him and it upset me because I miss him so much
Bruce Skinner
Monday 28th of September 2020
I am a new zealander engaged to be married to a canadian citizen but everything on hold. We are both in our 70s so time is very very important to us. I have applied for an exemption and received back a cooy of their regulations which I've read a thousand times. It really sucks being so unfair.
Kashlee Kucheran
Tuesday 29th of September 2020
We wish you good luck!
N
Monday 28th of September 2020
Canada doesn’t need tourism to help its economy. It doesn’t depend on it like most European countries. The fact is, Canada’s coronavirus rate is lower than in most countries and it’s probably due to how it’s being controlled here
Katy
Tuesday 29th of September 2020
I don’t think you know what you’re saying right now and how many Canadian businesses went bankrupt and how many people lost their jobs... yeah if you went out of the prison the govt shut u in you’d prob notice!!! There are areas of Canada that depend mostly(if not only) on tourism!!!
Katy
Sunday 27th of September 2020
Fortunately, lots of people start thinking this way now and I’m glad to read people start seeing liberals the way they truly are! Love is not tourism and people have hearts and feelings unlike most liberals! Ironically, there are no foreigners coming but cases going up... that’s the price for the government, karma is a b@tch mr Trudeau!
Allan Seim
Sunday 27th of September 2020
The Liberals will NEVER get my vote again. I will remember this border issue for the rest of my life. The European Union selectively opened it's borders on July the 1st. to countries that have COVID under control including Canada. Why can't we reciprocate? Canada's borders have now been closed to every country in the world for 207 days. Our airports are empty, our airplanes are grounded, our pilots are getting decertified, our tourism and hospitality industries are languishing, people can't attend weddings, funerals and family reunions and relationships are now only virtual. Enough is enough !!! Instead of getting embroiled in scandal after scandal and racking up a deficit like we have never seen before it is time for Justin Trudeau to start governing the country with some intelligence.