Feds extending travel restrictions for those coming into Canada until late January

 

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the Government of Canada enacted additional regulations, including prohibitions and restrictions, on discretionary and optional travel from other countries--including the U.S.

Additionally, these measures included a requirement that those entering the country quarantine for 14 days.

On November 29, Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced the government would be Mandatory Isolation Order and temporary travel restrictions for all travellers seeking entry into Canada from a country other than the US, until January 21, 2021.

Further, travel restrictions for U.S. citizens and foreign nationals arriving from the U.S. remain in place until December 21, 2020, at which time they will likely also be extended.

Moreover, the federal government is amending its order creating a framework for considering applications from high-performance amateur sports organizations seeking to hold International Single Sport Events, such as Olympic qualifying events.

In order to be considered, applicants must include written commitments of on-going support from the provincial/territorial and local public health authorities and provincial/territorial governments, as well as a plan regarding how they intend to protect public health and the health of participants.

The authorization will come from the Department of Canadian Heritage (Sport Canada), in consultation with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

"Protecting the health and safety of Canadians is my most important responsibility. We have introduced a number of policies to keep Canadians safe but must remain flexible and adapt to the evolving COVID-19 situation, while keeping your health as our top priority," Blair said in a news release.