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.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
11 am |
| 15 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: ESE 33 KM/H
GUSTING TO 62 KM/H |
|
|
|
12 pm |
| 16 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: ESE 40 KM/H
GUSTING TO 70 KM/H |
|
|
|
1 pm |
| 16 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: ESE 44 KM/H
GUSTING TO 72 KM/H |
|
|
|
2 pm |
| 18 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: ESE 38 KM/H
GUSTING TO 64 KM/H |
|
|
|
3 pm |
| 21 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SE 31 KM/H
GUSTING TO 47 KM/H |
|
|
|
4 pm |
| 23 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: ESE 33 KM/H
GUSTING TO 45 KM/H |
|
|
|
5 pm |
| 23 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: ESE 32 KM/H
GUSTING TO 48 KM/H |
|
|
 |
6 pm |
| 22 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: E 32 KM/H
GUSTING TO 50 KM/H |
|
|
|
|
TODAY |
HIGH OF 23 ℃
LOW OF 7 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF 11 ℃
LOW OF -4 ℃ |
| RAIN AND SNOW |
|
|
|
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF -4 ℃
LOW OF -6 ℃ |
| SNOW |
|
|
|
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF -1 ℃
LOW OF -6 ℃ |
| LIGHT SNOW |
|
|
|
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF -1 ℃
LOW OF -9 ℃ |
| LIGHT SNOW |
|
|
|
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 0 ℃
LOW OF -8 ℃ |
| LIGHT SNOW |
|
|
|
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 0 ℃
LOW OF -4 ℃ |
| LIGHT SNOW |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 1 ℃
LOW OF -5 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
LUKE COMBS
TOMORROW ME
11:11 AM |
|
 |
MADISON STATION
BACK IN THE DAY
11:08 AM |
|
 |
JAKE OWEN
WOULDNT BE GONE
11:03 AM |
|
 |
BRANTLEY GILBERT
READ ME MY RIGHTS
10:59 AM |
|
 |
OLD DOMINION
EASY TO MISS
10:56 AM |
|
 |
TIM MCGRAW
KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME
10:52 AM |
|
 |
THOMAS RHETT
GET ME SOME OF THAT
10:49 AM |
|
 |
ELI YOUNG BAND
RAISED RIGHT
10:43 AM |
|
 |
MADDIE AND TAE
WHAT A WOMAN CAN DO
10:40 AM |
|
 |
SAM HUNT
LIBERTY
10:37 AM |
|
 
 |
