SHARE ON: |
| |
| |
 |
 |
|
|
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the government will continue to require travellers to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon entry into the country so long as the Public Health Agency of Canada advocates for it.
In an interview on CTV’s Question Period airing Sunday, Blair said the federal government is at the same time looking at how effective double vaccination is at mitigating spread.
“[Double vaccination] is also demonstrating for us, a very significant reduction in the risk that’s presented at our borders. Weve seen throughout the pandemic that advice has evolved as new evidence and new data is available. Well continue to follow the advice in the Public Health Agency Canada,” he said.
His comments come after news Friday that the U.S. will reopen its land borders to non-essential fully vaccinated travellers on Nov. 8, but will not require proof of a negative PCR molecular test to enter.
U.S. air travel rules do stipulate that travellers must show a negative test taken no more than three days before departure.
Blair said keeping the policy in place is not a signal that the government is trying to discourage travel.
“We just want to make sure that they can do it safely,” he said. “One of the things that we have done for Canadians who wish to go to United States, to engage in a shopping trip, a day trip for example, they’re going to be able to do so, theyre going to be able to get their PCR test in Canada, and itll remain valid for up to 72 hours.”
According to government data, of the 397,497 tests administered at the land border between February and July, 0.2 per cent have returned positive.
Speaking in Washington on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said it’s important to continue to follow the science as Canada remains engulfed in a fourth wave.
I really believe that when it comes to finishing the fight against COVID, the Canadian approach – which has been to follow science, to follow the recommendations of public health authorities, and to err on the side of caution – has served us really, really well,” she said.
She also reinforced that Canadians should only travel for necessity and holding back on “doing the things that you just want to do.”
A day later, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam cautioned against lifting testing requirements too soon.
“We have to have ongoing evaluation and discussion there is no doubt. But I would just like to remind everyone that right now we’re still at the top of that fourth wave. We’re in a situation in Canada where our health systems are still very fragile. We need to take a precautionary approach in the next little while,” she said.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
1 am |
| 1 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 15 KM/H
GUSTING TO 35 KM/H |
|
|
|
2 am |
| 1 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 19 KM/H
GUSTING TO 41 KM/H |
|
|
|
3 am |
| 1 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 20 KM/H
GUSTING TO 42 KM/H |
|
|
|
4 am |
| 1 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 17 KM/H
GUSTING TO 38 KM/H |
|
|
|
5 am |
| 2 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 13 KM/H
GUSTING TO 30 KM/H |
|
|
|
6 am |
| 2 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 11 KM/H
GUSTING TO 22 KM/H |
|
|
 |
7 am |
| 1 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSW 6 KM/H
GUSTING TO 7 KM/H |
|
|
|
8 am |
| 0 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 11 KM/H
GUSTING TO 29 KM/H |
|
|
|
|
TODAY |
HIGH OF 3 ℃
LOW OF -2 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 7 ℃
LOW OF -2 ℃ |
| LIGHT SNOW |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 1 ℃
LOW OF -7 ℃ |
| LIGHT SNOW |
|
|
|
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF -7 ℃
LOW OF -12 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF 6 ℃
LOW OF -9 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 6 ℃
LOW OF -4 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 6 ℃
LOW OF 0 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
|
|
|
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 10 ℃
LOW OF 0 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
CHRIS YOUNG
NEON
01:09 AM |
|
 |
TREA LANDON
WHATCHA KNOW GOOD
01:06 AM |
|
 |
KENNY CHESNEY
BORN
01:01 AM |
|
 |
CLAY WALKER
COWBOYS IN HEAVEN
12:59 AM |
|
 |
SAM GROW
HOUSE ON FULLER
12:55 AM |
|
 |
WILL DEMPSEY
LAST SINGLE THING
12:52 AM |
|
 |
MIRANDA LAMBERT
WAY TOO GOOD AT BREAKING MY HEART
12:48 AM |
|
 |
COLE SWINDELL
COUNTRY BOY CANT SURVIVE
12:42 AM |
|
 |
CHRIS CUMMINGS
BETTY
12:38 AM |
|
 |
ALEXIS ARNOLD
HOME TO ME
12:36 AM |
|
 
 |
