The Canadian government today announced a temporary negative COVID-19 test requirement for travellers arriving from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao. Air travellers two years of age and older will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test before departing for Canada beginning January 5, the Trudeau government said. The U.S. made a similar announcement a few days ago. Worried about a surge in cases in China and an alleged lack of accurate reporting of COVID-19 infection data, other countries also have placed restrictions on travellers from China. “As of 12:01 a.m. EST on January 5, all Read more
December 2022
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canadian airlines are “breaking their word” with the public and that the Trudeau government isn’t doing enough to help Canadian travellers left stranded at airports across the country. Speaking with journalists in Ottawa on Friday, Poilievre laid the blame for the chaos endured by thousands of Canadian passengers over the last week at the foot of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arguing airports and airlines are federally regulated and therefore a responsibility of the federal government, Global News reports. “This is a federal problem,” Poilievre said. The lead-up to Christmas was a disaster for many Canadian Read more
Battered Southwest Airlines says it expects to operate at something approaching full strength. Following one of the worst performances in U.S. aviation history, with more than 13,000 cancelled flights since December 22, the airline says it expects to operate with “minimal disruptions” on the day before New Year’s Eve. Southwest cancelled 2,362 flights on Thursday (57% of all scheduled departures), according to FlightAware.Com. But the website shows only 41 cancellations (1% of flights) as of 11 a.m. Eastern Time today (Dec. 30, 2022). Thousands of passengers are still trying to find their way home, or to their final destination, following Read more
The U.S. on Wednesday announced new COVID-19 testing requirements for all travelers from China. But Canada has yet to follow suit. Starting January 5, all travelers to the U.S. from China, Macau and Hong Kong will need to take a COVID-19 test no more than two days before travel and provide a negative test before boarding their flight. The testing applies to anyone two years and older, the CBC reports. Other countries made the move before the U.S., but Canada has yet to take similar action. A spokesperson for Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, said Canada is monitoring COVID-19 case numbers Read more
Mont-Tremblant, one of Canada’s most popular ski resorts, is the most expensive destination in the country for an overnight stay on New Year’s Eve this year, according to a survey by Cheaphotels.org. The survey compared the cost of accommodation this coming December 31 across 20 Canadian destinations. For each destination, the price for the cheapest available double room was recorded. Only centrally-located hotels rated at least three stars and with generally positive guest reviews were taken into account. Mont-Tremblant emerged as the clear leader with a rate of C$ 880 for the least expensive room. Compared to regular winter rates, Read more
