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COVID-19: Appearance before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health ()—Travel restrictions

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Prohibition of entry for individuals travelling to Canada by air and marine (other than the United States)

Proposed response

As of , (as signed until ), travel to Canada by air and marine modes is prohibited for all foreign nationals, unless they are exempt and not entering for an optional or discretionary purpose.

There are a number of exemptions, including (but not exclusive to:

Notwithstanding the exemptions, all foreign nationals are prohibited from entering if they display a fever and cough, or a fever and breathing difficulties. In addition, their purpose of travel must be essential and/ or non-discretionary.

There are specific restrictions and exemptions in place for individuals travelling from the U.S. to Canada.

Background

The Canada Border Services Agency is working lock-step with Government of Canada counterparts on the whole-of-government approach to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global Affairs Canada is continually updating its guidance to travellers through travel health notices to inform Canadians of countries where the level of risk to health associated with COVID-19 is elevated. Global Affairs Canada is actively monitoring response measures being implemented by countries around the world that could impact travellers and is regularly updating the Travel Advice and Advisories for all countries.

On , the Government of Canada issued an official global travel advisory to avoid non-essential travel abroad. In an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19, many governments implemented special entry and exit and movement restrictions for their territories. New restrictions could be imposed, and as such, could severely disrupt Canadians' travel plans. As a result, the Government of Canada advised Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice.

To further complement these measures, Transport Canada, announced the implementation of new measures pertaining to cruise ships in Canadian waters: deferring the start of the cruise ship season in Canada, from , to , at the earliest. This deferral will apply to cruise ships capable of carrying more than 500 passengers and crew members. Also, given the limited public health capacity in Canada's Northern communities, the cruise ship season for vessels with Canadian Arctic stops will be deferred for the entire season this year.

Restrictions for individuals travelling to Canada by air and marine

More recently, on , an order came into force restricting travel of foreign nationals to Canada by air and marine from any country other than the United States. This restriction does not apply to a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act nor a protected person as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Specified exemptions exist for persons seeking entry for purposes that are not optional or discretionary. Despite these exemptions, persons that exhibit signs and symptoms of a fever and cough or a fever and breathing difficulties, are prohibited from entry to Canada.

Exemptions

Provided a person is not symptomatic and not travelling for an optional or discretionary purpose, exemptions to this prohibition include:

Notwithstanding the exemptions, all foreign nationals are prohibited from entering if they display the a fever and cough, or a fever and breathing difficulties.

In regards to the Canada-U.S. border, both governments agreed to temporarily restrict non-essential travel across the border on . An order came into effect on , and as a result, travellers will no longer be permitted to cross the border from the U.S. to Canada for tourism, recreation and entertainment. The two governments also agreed that essential travel will continue and recognized that it is critical to preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel, and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border.

Restrictions for individuals travelling to Canada from the United States (all modes)

Proposed response

The Canada – U.S. border is open for essential travel that supports trade and our economy.

On , the Governments of Canada and the United States announced that both countries would be implementing collaborative and reciprocal measures to suspend non-essential travel along the Canada-U.S. border in response to the spread of COVID-19.

Travel by healthy people who have to cross the border to go to work or for other essential purposes, such as medical care, will continue, as long as they have been inside the U.S. or Canada for the past 14 days.

This does not apply to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons and Registered Indians under the Indian Act.

The restriction came into effect on , for 30 days (until ), and may be renewed if deemed necessary.

Foreign nationals are prohibited from entering Canada for the purpose of claiming refugee protection, subject to very limited exceptions (for example, an unaccompanied minor or a U.S citizen).

All foreign nationals, unless making a claim for refugee protection and meeting the limited exceptions as described for this category of persons, are prohibited from entering if they display symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

All travellers arriving in Canada, including workers who provide essential services, are subject to questioning about their health.

These measures apply in land, air, rail and marine modes.

Background

Every day, $2.7 billion-worth of goods and services passes through the Canada-U.S. border and that trade is essential to both our countries. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada and the U.S. are temporarily restricting all non-essential travel across its borders. In our respective countries, individuals are encouraged and are recommended to exercise caution by avoiding unnecessary contact with others (social distancing). This collaborative and reciprocal measure is an extension of that prudent approach.

Canada and the U.S. recognize the critical necessity to preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel, and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border. Supply chains, including trucking, will not be impacted by this new measure. Canadians and Americans cross land border crossings daily to perform essential work, to study, or as a result of urgent or essential reasons. This travel should not be impacted.

To help manage the threat posed by international travel, Canada announced reciprocal measures with the U.S., for individuals in those countries who are travelling for non-essential, optional or discretionary reasons.

Non-essential travel restriction

On , the Governments of Canada and the United States announced that both countries would be implementing collaborative and reciprocal measures to suspend non-essential travel along the Canada-U.S. border in response to the spread of COVID-19. Non-essential travel includes, but is not limited to, tourism, recreation, and entertainment.

As of , a temporary 30-day restriction on all non-essential travel at the Canada-U.S. border came into effect. These temporary measures are effective as of for an initial period of 30 days, renewable.

Essential travel

Some examples of essential travel purposes are:

Border Services Officers are to use discretion when enforcing the restrictions.

Refugee claimants

Foreign nationals seeking entry from the United States (U.S.) are prohibited from entering Canada for the purpose of claiming refugee protection, subject to the following 4 exemptions:

  1. U.S. citizens
  2. Stateless habitual resident of the U.S.
  3. A parent or legal guardian of a minor who is a citizen of the U.S. making a refugee claim
  4. An unaccompanied minor that is not unmarried and does not have a common-law partner and does not have a parent nor legal guardian in the U.S.

Symptomatic travellers

Any foreign national exhibiting signs and symptoms of a fever and cough or a fever and breathing difficulties is prohibited from entry, even if they are seeking entry for essential travel. The only exception to symptomatic travellers are refugee claimants who meet the exceptions, as described above.

Exemptions

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Registered Indians under the Indian Act and protected persons are exempted from the above. They will be provided with a Public Health Agency of Canada pamphlet containing the latest health advice that advises travellers to self-isolate for 14 days.

Screening

Regardless of how they seek to enter Canada, all travellers arriving in Canada, including workers who provide essential services, are subject to questioning about their health. CBSA Officers not only query travellers on the state of their health, they observe visible signs of illness and will refer any traveller who they suspect of being ill, regardless of how the traveller responded to the health screening question.

Mandatory isolation for returning travellers

Proposed response

The Government continues to introduce border measures to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19.

Restrictions are already in place since for non-essential, discretionary travel for individuals travelling from the United States in all modes, as well as, foreign nationals coming to Canada by air or marine.

As of , anyone entering Canada, by air, sea or land, whether or not they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, will be ordered to self-isolate for 14 days.

Workers that cross the border on a regular basis, such as truck drivers, firefighters and medical workers, as well as some travellers who enter into Canada to receive essential services, will continue to be permitted to enter and will be exempt from the new requirement for mandatory self-isolation provided they are asymptomatic.

Individuals exempt from the order for mandatory self-isolation are required to continually self monitor and practice proper self-isolation measures when not performing their duties.

There are also exemptions in place to ensure that critical infrastructure, essential services and economic supply chains continue between Canada and the U.S..

If pressed on contact tracing

To assist the enforcement of the mandatory self-isolation, the CBSA will be collecting additional contact information for all in-bound travellers.

As per usual process, the completed forms will be provided to PHAC who will handle the next steps.

Background

To further prevent the introduction or spread of COVID-19, anyone entering Canada, by air, sea or land, whether or not they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, is required to self-isolate for 14 days, effective on .

The order requires that any person, subject to the exemptions under the current travel restrictions, must:

  1. Isolate themselves without delay in accordance with instructions provided by a CBSA screening officer or a PHAC quarantine officer and remain in isolation until the expiry of the 14-day period that begins on the day on which the person enters Canada
  2. Monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 until the expiry of the 14-day period an, if they develop any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, follow instructions provide by the public health authority specified by a screening officer or quarantine officer

Disclosure of illness

In addition, any person entering Canada who has a fever and a cough, or a fever and difficulty breathing, or who has reasonable grounds to suspect they have these symptoms, must disclose that fact to a screening officer or quarantine officer. For the period of the isolation, the individual must also undergo any health assessments that a quarantine officer requires, monitor their signs and symptoms, and report to the public health authority specified by a screening officer or quarantine officer if they require additional medical care.

Exemptions to the mandatory self-isolation order

Asylum claimants

Proposed response

Every person seeking to enter Canada is being screened for COVID-19 and other health issues regardless of how they enter Canada (for example, at ports of entry or between ports of entry).

On , the Government of Canada announced that they have reached a reciprocal agreement with the United States to direct back any foreign national seeking to enter the country between ports of entry.

The Safe Third Country Agreement continues to apply to any claims made at land ports of entry.

A new provision under subsection 41(d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) has been enacted. This amendment will enable an officer to direct back a foreign national prescribed pursuant to an emergency order or regulations made under an Act of Parliament.

There are exceptions that apply, notably for minors claiming asylum irregularly.

The CBSA continues to screen asylum claimants for potential signs of illness as per standard process.

If an individual is symptomatic, they are referred to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for further examination.

IRCC and CBSA are ensuring that accommodation challenges for asylum seekers for the province of Quebec are being met.

Asylum seekers requiring 14 day isolation or quarantine, will be transferred to IRCC, who has taking responsibility to house the asylum seekers for the 14 day period.

Background

Starting in 2017, Canada began to experience an increase in the movement of asylum seekers crossing in between the ports of entry (POE) in the Quebec Region, more precisely at Roxham Road. In 2018 and 2019, daily arrival average between POE remained consistent at 50 asylum seekers.

As per normal processes, once asylum seekers are processed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), they are transported by bus to temporary shelters in Montreal (YMCA Montréal) where they remain for an average of 45 days until they are able to find long-term housing. These services are offered by the Government of Quebec and federal funding has been provided to the province under the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP). [Redacted].

Since the appearance of COVID-19, procedures have been implemented by the CBSA, including additional screening questions and the distribution of a Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) COVID-19 awareness handout. In the context of managing the current COVID-19 situation, the Government of Quebec has put forward a number of requests to the federal government regarding border management.

In order to be proactive, the federal government has opened the Auberge in Lacolle as of . The CBSA is working collaboratively with IRCC to transfer management responsibility of the Auberge from CBSA to IRCC. There is a total of 8 quarantine rooms at Lacolle: 4 quarantine rooms and an on-site clinic on-site at the Regional Processing Center (located in a winterized trailer) and 4 quarantine rooms at the Auberge. The quarantine rooms and clinic are to provide first aid to asylum seekers if needed and will be utilized in the event an asylum seeker is required to be isolated from the rest of the on-site population. A medical examination may be performed if a CBSA officer has concerns related to the responses provided by an asylum seeker related to COVID-19. Any asylum seeker providing negative responses but having similar symptoms would also be referred to the on-site clinic. The on-site clinic in Lacolle is staffed 24/7 by 2 licensed nurses.

Individuals who have been processed by the CBSA and who are not showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be transferred to the Auberge pending longer term accommodation arrangements by IRCC. Asylum seekers are provided with the COVID-19 awareness handout and counselled to respect social distancing. The CBSA has been informed that the Province of Quebec will resume taking asylum seekers into the provincial shelter system following the 14 day self-isolation period.

Measures on asylum as of

On , in order to enhance the authority of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to respond to emergency situations that temporarily impact the border, a new provision under subsection 41(d) of the IRPR has been enacted. This amendment will enable an officer to direct back a foreign national prescribed pursuant to an emergency order or regulations made under an Act of Parliament.

There are exceptions prescribed in the regulations, including:

This applies to all foreign nationals, including refugee claimants and the direct-back issued by the officer would be valid for the duration of the period outlined in the emergency order or regulation. Once the emergency order is lifted, all foreign nationals who initiated a refugee claim and were directed back will be permitted to return to Canada for the continuation of their processing. This order is in place for 30 days (renewable).

CBSA has established an external website to provide information to any asylum seeker who has been directed back to the U.S.

Temporary foreign workers program (including stats)

Proposed response

The Government of Canada has moved forward with two orders under the Quarantine Act that prohibit foreign nationals from entering Canada.

One order prohibits entry for those who seek to enter Canada from the United States, while the second order prohibits entry for those who seek to enter Canada from any country other than the United States.

There are a number of exceptions to the general prohibition. Certain classes of persons, as long as they are not symptomatic or are not travelling for an optional or discretionary purpose, can still be allowed to enter Canada.

Canada recognizes the important contributions that temporary foreign workers provide to the Canadian economy, and to the health and well-being of the Canadian public, such as those who are providing emergency services or seeking entry to deliver, maintain or repair medically necessary equipment.

In light of these important contributions, the most recent prohibition orders provide exceptions to a number of temporary foreign workers.

Of note, these workers, subject to certain exceptions, will be required to self-isolate upon entry in accordance with Mandatory Isolation order, which was also issued under the Quarantine Act.

Workers that cross the border on a regular basis, such as truck drivers, firefighters and medical workers, as well as travellers who enter into Canada to receive essential services will continue to be permitted to enter and will be exempt from the new requirement for mandatory isolation provided they are asymptomatic.

Background

The Canada Border Services Agency is working lock-step with Government of Canada counterparts on the whole-of-government approach to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global Affairs Canada is continually updating its guidance to travellers through travel health notices to inform Canadians of countries where the level of risk to health associated with COVID-19 is elevated. Global Affairs Canada is actively monitoring response measures being implemented by countries around the world that could impact travellers and is regularly updating the Travel Advice and Advisories for all countries.

On , the Government of Canada issued an official global travel advisory to avoid non-essential travel abroad. In an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19, many governments implemented special entry and exit and movement restrictions for their territories. New restrictions could be imposed, and as such, could severely disrupt Canadians' travel plans. As a result, the Government of Canada advised Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice.

To further complement these measures, Transport Canada, announced the implementation of new measures pertaining to cruise ships in Canadian waters: deferring the start of the cruise ship season in Canada, from , to , at the earliest. This deferral will apply to cruise ships capable of carrying more than 500 passengers and crew members. Also, given the limited public health capacity in Canada's Northern communities, the cruise ship season for vessels with Canadian Arctic stops will be deferred for the entire season this year.

Restrictions for individuals travelling to Canada by air and marine

More recently, on , an order came into force restricting travel of foreign nationals to Canada by air and marine from any country other than the United States. This restriction does not apply to a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act nor a protected person as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Specified exemptions exist for persons seeking entry for purposes that are not optional or discretionary. Despite these exemptions, persons that exhibit signs and symptoms of a fever and cough or a fever and breathing difficulties, are prohibited from entry to Canada.

Exemptions

Provided a person is not symptomatic and not travelling for an optional or discretionary purpose, exemptions to this prohibition include:

Notwithstanding the exemptions, all foreign nationals are prohibited from entering if they display the a fever and cough, or a fever and breathing difficulties.

In regards to the Canada-U.S. border, both governments agreed to temporarily restrict non-essential travel across the border on . An order came into effect on , and as a result, travellers will no longer be permitted to cross the border from the U.S. to Canada for tourism, recreation and entertainment. The two governments also agreed that essential travel will continue and recognized that it is critical to preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel, and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border.

Mandatory self-isolation

To further prevent the introduction or spread of COVID-19, anyone entering Canada, by air, sea or land, whether or not they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, is required to self-isolate for 14 days, effective on .

The order requires that any person, subject to the exemptions under the current travel restrictions, must:

  1. Isolate themselves without delay in accordance with instructions provided by a CBSA screening officer or a PHAC quarantine officer and remain in isolation until the expiry of the 14-day period that begins on the day on which the person enters Canada
  2. Monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 until the expiry of the 14-day period an, if they develop any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, follow instructions provide by the public health authority specified by a screening officer or quarantine officer
Disclosure of illness

In addition, any person entering Canada who has a fever and a cough, or a fever and difficulty breathing, or who has reasonable grounds to suspect they have these symptoms, must disclose that fact to a screening officer or quarantine officer. For the period of the isolation, the individual must also undergo any health assessments that a quarantine officer requires, monitor their signs and symptoms, and report to the public health authority specified by a screening officer or quarantine officer if they require additional medical care.

Exemptions to the mandatory self-isolation order
CBSA Immigration facilitations March 2019 vs 2020 comparison—Work permitTable note 1
2019 (March 3 to 9)
2020 (March 1 to 7)
2019 (March 10 to 16)
2020 (March 8 to 14)
2019 (March 17 to 23)
2020 (March 15 to 21)
2019 (March 24 to 30)
2020 (March 22 to 28)
Total
March 2019
March 2020
Work permit 2019 4,957 4,751 5,049 6,895 21,652
2020 6,227 6,076 2,509 99 14,911
Change 25.6% 27.9% -50.3% -98.6% -31.1%
Work permit extension 2019 6 4 7 10 27
2020 13 9 3 2 27
Change 116.7% 125.0% -57.1% -80.0% 0.0%
Total 2019 4,963 4,755 5,056 6,905 21,679
2020 6,240 6,085 2,512 101 14,938
Change 25.7% 28.0% -50.3% -98.5% -31.1%
CBSA Immigration facilitations March 2019 vs 2020 comparison—Study permit
2019 (March 3 to 9)
2020 (March 1 to 7)
2019 (March 10 to 16)
2020 (March 8 to 14)
2019 (March 17 to 23)
2020 (March 15 to 21)
2019 (March 24 to 30)
2020 (March 22 to 28)
Total
March 2019
March 2020
Study permit 2019 1,020 1,079 1,519 1,563 5,181
2020 1,531 1,684 720 14 3,949
Change 50.1% 56.1% -52.6% -99.1% -23.8%
Study permit extension 2019 4 0 3 9 16
2020 1 5 3 0 9
Change -75.0% 100.0% 0.0% -100.0% -43.8%
Total 2019 1,024 1,079 1,522 1,572 5,197
2020 1,532 1,689 723 14 3,958
Change 49.6% 56.5% -52.5% -99.1% -23.8%
CBSA Immigration facilitations March 2019 vs 2020 comparison—Confirmation of permanent residency
2019 (March 3 to 9)
2020 (March 1 to 7)
2019 (March 10 to 16)
2020 (March 8 to 14)
2019 (March 17 to 23)
2020 (March 15 to 21)
2019 (March 24 to 30)
2020 (March 22 to 28)
Total
March 2019
March 2020
2019 4,754 4,394 4,694 5,019 18,861
2020 5,390 5,300 3,057 474 14,221
Change 13.4% 20.6% -34.9% -90.6% -24.6%

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