Fully vaccinated travellers will need to take a rapid test before returning to Canada
The federal government is eliminating the pre-arrival PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers starting Feb. 28, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced Tuesday.
Travellers can instead opt for a cheaper rapid antigen test approved by the country they are coming from, taken 24 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border.
Currently, all travellers – regardless of vaccine status – must provide proof of a negative molecular test, such as a PCR test, within 72 hours of their scheduled flight or land entry into Canada.
Travellers may still be selected for random testing upon arrival but will no longer have to quarantine while awaiting their test results.
The government is also easing its advisory recommending Canadians avoid non-essential travel due to the rise of the Omicron variant.
“I want to underscore that Canadians should still exercise caution when travelling abroad. There is still a real risk of becoming sick or stranded while abroad and having to extend their trip or find themselves in need of medical assistance should they test positive for COVID-19,†said Duclos.
Restrictions on unvaccinated children younger than 12 and travelling with vaccinated adults are also being lifted.
“This means they will no longer need to wait and self-isolate before attending school, daycare, or camps. They will also no longer be subject to testing and other specific requirements,†said Duclos.
Unvaccinated travellers will still be required to be tested on arrival into Canada and must quarantine for 14 days.
Duclos said the announced border measures are “transitory†and will continue to be adjusted based on the national epidemiological situation.
“These changes are possible not only because we have passed the peak of Omicron but because Canadians across the country have listened to the science and to experts, followed the public health measures, and taken steps to protect themselves, their families and their communities,†he said.
The health minister was joined by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, and Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault.
Alghabra announced that as of Feb. 28, all Canadian airports that normally receive international flights will once again be able to do so. Currently, only 18 accept international arrivals.
“It’s good news for communities like Windsor, London, Fort McMurray, Moncton and many others. By receiving international flights, this will support local tourism, create good jobs, and grow our economy,†said Alghabra.
He also indicated that the government will have more to say about testing requirements for cruise ships “in time for the cruise ship season this spring.â€
While the ban on cruise ships in Canadian waters lifted on Nov. 1, 2021, there is still an advisory against travel on cruise ships outside of the country.
Asked why these measures won’t take place until Feb. 28, Duclos said it takes time to update the new guidelines on the ArriveCan app.
“It needs to be properly programmed so that everything can be properly rolled out,†he said, speaking in French.
In a statement released following the press conference, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce said it welcomes the steps towards “normalizing†border rules.
“As Canada enters a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is definitely time for the federal government to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers. Restoring the health of Canada’s travel and tourism sector is critical for our country’s economic recovery,†said president and CEO Perrin Beatty.
“As conditions continue to improve, we look forward to the government lifting remaining requirements in a timely manner.â€
The National Airlines Council of Canada, which represents Canada’s largest air carriers, said that while they support the new measures, a “clear roadmap†is still needed.
“Providing flexibility in acceptable pre-departure tests will provide comfort to the many Canadians who are keen to travel once again, make new memories, and be reunited with loved ones,†said interim president and CEO Suzanne Acton-Gervais.
“While today’s changes are a step in the right direction, more needs to be done. Other countries have moved to eliminate pre-departure testing requirements entirely, and the latest scientific evidence suggests now is the time for Canada to consider doing the same.â€
Opposition politicians have long been calling on Ottawa to layout a concrete plan detailing a way out of the pandemic, including mechanisms to alleviate travel hurdles.
NDP health critic Taylor Bachrach said the news “finally gives Canadians some certainty about the future.â€
He echoed industry reaction that scientific evidence has long brought community spread is responsible for the majority of COVID-19 infections.
“Mandatory PCR testing on arrival was creating real frustration for Canadians who, despite being fully vaccinated, were stuck in quarantine due to delays getting their results,†he said.
“More importantly, measures like the mandatory arrival testing did not appear to be evidence-based or consistent with best public-health practices. It was time to re-evaluate these measures.â€
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Boy abducted from California in 1951 at age 6 found alive on East Coast more than 70 years later
Luis Armando Albino was six years old in 1951 when he was abducted while playing at an Oakland, Calif., park. Now, more than seven decades later, Albino has been found thanks to help from an online ancestry test, old photos and newspaper clippings.
Trudeau tells world leaders they 'have a responsibility' at UN Summit of the Future
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told delegates at the United Nations the world is at a global inflection point, having a choice between walking away from multilateralism or setting differences aside to confront serious global challenges.
An Edmonton man says he was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was injured by members of the Edmonton Police Service last year.
The brother of a 27-year-old man who was fatally shot in Scarborough over the weekend has been arrested and charged in connection with his death, say police.
White Sox lose 120th game to tie post-1900 record by the 1962 expansion New York Mets
After Sunday's loss, the White Sox are 36-120 with six regular-season games to go in 2024.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, makes first public appearance after cancer treatment
Kate, the Princess of Wales, made her first public appearance Sunday since she announced she had completed chemotherapy and would return to some public duties.
Air Canada union head says she'll resign if pilots reject deal
The head of the Air Canada pilots union says she'll step down if members opt not to approve a tentative deal with the airline, raising the stakes as aviators mull whether to accept hefty salary gains or drive an even harder bargain.
John Mulaney and Olivia Munn have second child, a daughter named Mei
Comedian John Mulaney and actor Olivia Munn now have a second child, a daughter named Mei June Mulaney.
Ontario's police watchdog has decided there are no grounds to believe Sudbury police committed a crime during a difficult arrest in May where the suspect's neck was broken.
Local Spotlight
Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.
Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.
An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.
They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.
A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.
Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.
The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.
It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.