The federal government today announced an end to mandatory vaccination for Canadians travelling domestically on airplanes and trains, and also for outbound international travel.
Senior ministers in the Trudeau government said foreign travellers will still need to show proof of vaccination to enter Canada, while unvaccinated Canadians returning home will still be required to quarantine. The new rules will take effect Monday, June 20.
Other entry requirements will stay in place, including the requirement to fill out the government’s ArriveCAN app. Masks will still be required on airplanes, large ships, and trains, officials said.
As well, “due to the unique nature of cruise ship travel,” the vaccination requirements for passengers and crew of cruise ships will remain in effect.
The government’s vaccination travel rules have been in effect since October 30, 2021.
Canadian travel and tourism officials have repeatedly called for an end to vaccine requirements as a way to help ease airport congestion, which has plagued big city airports such as Toronto Pearson.
Frederic Dimanche, director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ryerson University in Toronto, said the announcement is good news.
“It will help increase traveller confidence and intentions to travel,” he told me in am email. “People are eager to travel and this measure, well timed at the beginning of summer, should contribute to increased demand. However, international travellers are still required to show proof of vaccination, so this remains a barrier for international travellers.”
While the news is generally good for tourism, Dimanche said he’s worried an overworked industry might not be ready for an increased demand.
“The labour gap now remains the major issue the industry is facing, and increased demand will put even more pressure on under-staffed airports (security, immigration, airline staff) as well as on the sector as a whole. Service quality will continue to suffer as a result… and this may affect the reputation of our airports and destinations” he said.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra today was asked about added travel demand and how it would affect already crowded airports across Canada, and especially in Toronto.
Alghabra said government data shows “signifificant improvement” for both outbound and inbound travellers. Outbound waits are down at least 40%, he said.
The minister said Ottawa has added nearly 900 security officers at Canadian airports in the past few weeks. They’ve also hired more Canada Customs officers and students and are “streamlining” arrival procedures.
“We have acted swiftly and decisively,” he said.
Ottawa last week said it’s temporarily suspending random, on-arrival testing of vaccinated travellers at Canadian airports, but only through the end of June.
Wait times and tarmac delays for arriving flights at large airports improved immediately after the move went into effect Saturday, the Canadian Airports Council and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority told Global News.
