The head of the union for Canadian Customs workers says the Canadian government has steadily decreased the number of border employees over the years. They’re calling on the Trudeau government to increase workers at the border and ease logjams that are bedeviling passengers flying into Canadian airports. “As travelers arriving at Canada’s international airports continue to experience extensive delays, the National President of the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) is calling upon the Minister of Public Safety and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to increase the number of border services officers assigned to passenger operations in Canadian airports and Read more

The Canada Border Services Agency says travellers could face delays over the Victoria Day long weekend. The CBSA reminds all travellers crossing the border this upcoming Victoria Day long weekend of what to expect at the border during the busy summer months, whether returning home to Canada or visiting. This summer, travellers are returning to a border that is managed differently, with evolving COVID-19 requirements, which can mean delays during peak periods. The CBSA is working to mitigate long border wait times, but there are also things that travellers can do to make the process easier for themselves and other Read more

The Canadian government said it’s doing its best to cope with a spike in demand for passports and long passport processing times. “With pandemic restrictions easing around the world, interest in travel is growing among Canadians, and demand for new or renewed passports is growing along with it,” officials in the Trudeau government said today. “Service Canada is experiencing increases in passport processing times, and is responding by prioritizing those travelling imminently and ensuring that those with less urgent needs can access the right service channels for them. “Service Canada’s ability to serve Canadians swiftly was affected by the unprecedented Read more

Canadians have new options for flights to two of the most iconic cities in the United States, as Air Transat is adding a Montreal-Los Angeles route and Flair Airlines is adding Toronto-Chicago service. Air Transat, awarded World’s Best Leisure Airline of 2021 at the Skytrax World Airlines Awards, began non-stop service to Los Angeles from Montreal this week. This first flight to the City of Angels — famous for its Hollywood Walk of Fame, Sunset Boulevard, countless film studios and Malibu Beach — marks the start of the carrier’s operations in sunny California. The first TS240 flight to Los Angeles Read more

Australia is open again for business, and Air Canada is an ideal way to get there. Australia has long been a top destination for Canadians dreaming of fantastic scenery, sunny skies, indigenous travel experiences, and amazing culture. The borders were pretty much closed for two years, but international visitors began to be welcomed again in late February. Air Canada has daily flights from Vancouver to Sydney on posh, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. They’ll add direct flights from YVR to Brisbane starting July 1. (Air Canada also will resume flights from Vancouver to Auckland, New Zealand in November of this year.) Vic Read more

The 2022 edition of the annual Toyota Canada Summer Road Trip Survey conducted by Ipsos revealed that Canadians may be feeling that a “return to normal” is on the horizon. The poll found that nearly all (91%) Canadians are planning to reinstate activities that they had to set aside over the past few years. For some, their summer plans include visiting friends and family, taking more vacation time and, even though gas prices are on the rise, taking international road trips. Road-trippers are ready to hit the road and, for some, the border  The survey found that three quarters of Read more