NEWS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Getting closer to vaccination certificates for int’l travel: “Naturally, it’s to be expected,” says Trudeau in briefing OTTAWA — In his COVID briefing earlier this week, asked about travel restrictions, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave more positive indication that vaccination certificates are part of the plan for Canada reopening its economy and its borders post-COVID-19. In light of the news that the EU could be welcoming fully vaccinated Americans for travel this summer, Trudeau was asked about Canada’s own travel restrictions as Canada’s vaccination program continues to roll out. The federal government has maintained that every Canadian who wants to be vaccinated should be vaccinated by September 2021. A reporter asked Trudeau: “We’re only about 5 months out from that timeline. As the EU and the U.S. [move towards reopening travel for fully vaccinated travellers], are you worried that fully vaccinated Canadians will be at a disadvantage?” Trudeau said: “We continue to plan for how to reopen our economy, and our borders. Vaccination certificates have been a part of international travel for a long time. Naturally, it’s to be expected for international travel. How we roll that out is something we’re working on right now to coordinate.” The reporter asked: “So that sounds
like a yes [to vaccination certificates]?” Trudeau responded that the government is focused on getting Canada through the third wave. Earlier in the briefing Trudeau acknowledged the devastating toll the pandemic and Canada’s travel restrictions have had on the tourism and travel industry, impacting many Canadians and small businesses across the country. He also said the government’s medical officers are “closely watching the impact of vaccination on the ability of the virus to spread.” However he also added: “Once the time is right, we will open up with the borders, perhaps with the necessary vaccination certificates.” They’re the latest small but important indications of the role that vaccination certificates could play in the reopening of Canada’s travel and tourism industries, and borders. ONTARIO’S ASK: PCR TESTING FOR DOMESTIC AIR TRAVELLERS Meanwhile, amid rising calls for even more restrictions on travel, Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario’s Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, said that the oft-quoted statistic - that less than 2% of COVID cases can be traced back to travel - doesn’t tell the whole story. On April 26 both Dr. Yaffe and Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, were asked for their take on the need for more measures against travel. The question came as Ontario has reportedly asked Ottawa for enhanced measures for interprovincial travellers, including PCR testing for domestic air
travel. Ontario has already closed its Quebec and Manitoba boundaries to non-essential travel. Speaking at a briefing yesterday, Dr. Yaffe said: “They quote that lessthan-2% statistic, but these cases then spread. Yes it’s a small percentage but it doesn’t indicate the burden of illness beyond that household." Dr. Williams added: “Toronto is such an international hub … I don’t think the [border measures and quarantine] system is as solid as it should be. We want to set up a better system.” Unfortunately, said Dr. Williams, the variants are already in Canada. “It’s like trying to put the seatbelt on while the car is rolling. At that point, it’s too late.” But, he added: “These variants are quite different. Be very cautious. We’ll do our part, you continue to do your part.”
Keep financial assistance going for the travel industry: ACTA TORONTO — While the continued rollout of Canada’s vaccination program could mean a better summer ahead, so far the summer months will also bring a tapering off of government support, and that will have dire consequences for the travel industry, says ACTA President Wendy Paradis. In a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland last week, says Paradis, ACTA learned that the budget assumes the vaccine rollout will continue at a rapid pace through the end of June — and Minister Freeland said, “I believe Canadians are going to have a great summer.” Says Paradis: “While we hope that the Minister is correct, ACTA along with other travel and tourism associations stressed that the timelines are premature. Given that we are still under very strict lockdowns, borders closed and travel restrictions in place — travel agencies and travel agents will not see any notable increase in revenue in Q3 and Q4 when aid programs are set to expire.” As announced by Minister Freeland in the 2021 budget earlier this month, the extension of Canada’s COVID-19 aid programs includes extending CEWS, CERS and Lockdown Support April 29, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 11
