Issue notes—Standing Committee on Health: Emergency Situation Facing Canadians in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 21, 2021)

CBSA's role at the border

Proposed response:

Border Services Officers (BSOs) facilitate legitimate trade and travel across Canada's border and keep Canadians safe by stopping illicit weapons and drugs and inadmissible people from coming into Canada.

In the context of the pandemic, CBSA officers at the port of entry are designated screening officers under the Quarantine Act.

As such, they assess every traveller's health status through visual inspection for symptoms, as well as a series of health screening questions as requested by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Travellers who appear ill, or answer "yes" to any of the screening questions, are referred to PHAC officers for further assessment.

In addition, CBSA officers ensure that travellers have submitted necessary contact information and, if required, a quarantine plan prior to entering, or upon entry to, Canada.

Since January 7, 2021, CBSA officers have also been responsible for ensuring that travellers who are required to submit evidence of a valid pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test, do so upon arrival. Travellers who do not have a molecular test are referred to PHAC.

Eligible foreign nationals who arrive by land and who are not in possession of a valid COVID-19 test result are refused entry and directed back to the United States by a CBSA officer.

BSOs must also determine a traveller's quarantine exemption status. Travellers who are exempt from quarantine, either through a provision of the Order in Council or a Chief Public Health Officer designation, and who also enter by right from one of the OIC exemptions are permitted to proceed into Canada unless other concerns are identified.

Travellers who arrive by air and who are not exempt from quarantine must have arrangements for a three-night prepaid government approved accommodation (GAA) stop-over at their first point of arrival. BSOs ensure that travellers have evidence of a booking, and refer all non-exempt travellers with or without arrangements to PHAC, including for transportation arrangements to a GAA.

At most land ports of entry, travellers are given test kits to self-administer a specimen collection. This test kit is given upon arrival at their place of quarantine and on day 8 of their 14-day quarantine period.

At land ports of entry where PHAC conducts on-site COVID-19 testing, the CBSA officers direct travellers to the test site upon completion of all customs and immigration processes.

In cases of non-compliance, CBSA officers make appropriate referrals to PHAC in accordance with established standard operating procedures.

Once a traveller is admitted into Canada, the responsibility to monitor individuals from a public health perspective falls within the mandate of the PHAC and provincial or territorial health authorities.

It is important to note that the CBSA does not issue fines in the enforcement of the Quarantine Act requirements; the decision on whether to pursue any enforcement action related to the public health orders rests with PHAC.

Background:

Border Services Officers (BSOs) facilitate the legitimate trade and travel across Canada's border and keep Canadians safe by stopping illicit weapons, drugs and inadmissible people from coming into Canada. In the performance of their duties, BSOs administer and enforce over 90 acts of Parliament, including the Customs Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Criminal Code and the Quarantine Act.

In the context of the pandemic, CBSA officers at the port of entry are designated screening officers under the Quarantine Act. In this role, they perform health screening on all international travellers by assessing every traveller's health status through visual inspection for symptoms, as well as a series of health screening questions as requested by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Travellers who appear ill, or answer "yes" to any of the screening questions, are referred to PHAC officers for further assessment.

In addition, CBSA officers ensure that travellers have submitted necessary contact information and if required, a quarantine plan prior to entering, or upon entry to, Canada. Depending on their purpose of travel and intended length of stay, foreign nationals who are not able to quarantine for 14 days are prohibited from entry to Canada. Those who enter by right, such as Canadian citizens, permanent residents and persons registered under the Indian Act, are referred to PHAC for further assessment.

Since January 7, 2021, CBSA officers have also been responsible for ensuring that travellers who are required to submit evidence of a valid pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test do so upon arrival. Travellers who do not have a valid molecular test are referred to PHAC.

Foreign nationals who arrive by land and who are not in possession of valid COVID-19 test results are refused entry and directed back to the United States by a CBSA officer.

BSOs must also determine a traveller's quarantine exemption status. Travellers who are exempt from quarantine, either through a provision of the Order in Council or a Chief Public Health Officer designation, are permitted to proceed into Canada unless other concerns are identified.

Travellers who arrive by air and who are not quarantine-exempt must have arrangements for a three-night prepaid government approved accommodation (GAA) stop-over at their first point of arrival. BSOs ensure that travellers have evidence of such booking and refer all non-exempt travellers with or without arrangements to PHAC. PHAC is responsible for arranging on-arrival testing at the airport, arranging transportation to a GAA, and providing test kits and instructions for travellers to self-test on day 10 of their 14-day quarantine.

At most land ports of entry, travellers are given test kits to self-administer a specimen collection. This test kit is given upon arrival at their place of quarantine and on day 8 of their 14-day quarantine period.

At land ports of entry where PHAC conducts on-site COVID-19 testing, the CBSA officers direct travellers to the test site upon completion of all customs and immigration processes.

In cases of non-compliance, CBSA officers make appropriate referrals to PHAC in accordance with established standard operating procedures.

Once a traveller is admitted into Canada, the responsibility to monitor individuals from a public health perspective falls within the mandate of PHAC and provincial or territorial health authorities.

It is important to note that the CBSA officers are not designated peace officers under the Quarantine Act. As such, they do not issue fines in the enforcement of the Quarantine Act requirements. The decision on whether to pursue any enforcement action related to the public health orders rests with PHAC. Peace officer assistance in such matters is provided by police forces of jurisdiction in the location where contraventions occur.

Contacts:

Approved by: Denis Vinette, Vice-President, Travellers Branch

Border Services Officer training

Proposed response:

The CBSA provides regular briefings on the evolving COVID-19 situation to its Border Services Officers (BSOs) and to the Customs and Immigration Union.

The Agency also works closely with Health Canada (HC) and Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) experts to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect the public and frontline staff.

BSOs have been trained by occupational health officials from PHAC on the proper donning and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and are provided with written instructions.

To assist officers in the performance of their duties as screening officers under the Quarantine Act, standard operating procedures were developed and clearly outline the processes to follow when:

• a traveller presents signs of a communicable disease subject to quarantine; and
• BSOs have reasonable grounds to suspect that a traveller may have a communicable disease subject to quarantine.

As the situation has evolved, officers have been provided with updated information and training through information bulletins, shift briefings, information sessions and videos.

If pressed on OIC application training:

BSOs receive regular guidance with respect to Orders in Council (OIC) requirements. Technical briefings are held to inform operations whenever substantive changes are being made to policy or procedures. Additionally, handouts are provided to officers for ease of reference in determining exempt vs non-exempt travellers.

Learning products are continually updated to reflect changes in the OIC. Currently, they are being updated to focus on procedural guidance to ensure clarity in the interpretation of the new rules and operational processes.

The CBSA's Border Task Force is available 24/7 to consult on any operational questions.

Guidance has been specifically provided to regional personnel to understand the processes and requirements of handing out test kits, as well as the safe storage of these test kits.

In addition, calls with all regions take place twice weekly in order to highlight any concerns that may be arising in the operations. If anything needs to be addressed, subsequent field guidance is sent to all regional staff.

Background:

The CBSA continues to follow the guidance of HC and PHAC with regards to personal protective equipment. Examples of the kind of guidance provided include:

• CBSA officers handling documents and baggage of potentially sick persons must wear gloves; and
• when a CBSA officer must be in close proximity to a potentially infected traveller for a prolonged period of time, officers are to wear gloves, eye/face protection and a surgical mask.

In addition, the CBSA requires employees to wear a surgical mask when they are processing a traveller or working with a client or stakeholder.

Even pre-COVID-19, BSOs were designated Screening Officers with responsibilities under the Quarantine Act and so are accustomed to assessing travellers and determining when a PHAC Quarantine Officer needs to be called.

As the situation with COVID-19 continues to evolve, it is important that BSOs are diligent in following the processes when screening travellers for signs of communicable diseases subject to quarantine.

To assist officers in performance of their duties as screening officers under the Quarantine Act, standard operating procedures were developed and clearly outline the processes to follow when:

• a traveller presents signs of a communicable disease subject to quarantine; and
• BSOs have reasonable grounds to suspect that a traveller may have a communicable disease subject to quarantine.

In addition to the cleaning and disinfection practices that are already in place and the PPE provided to employees, the Agency has installed Plexiglass partitions within higher-risk CBSA facilities to further prevent transmission and ensure everyone's health and safety.

Contacts:

Approved by: Louise Youdale, Vice President, Human Resources Branch

Approved by: Denis Vinette, Vice-President, Travellers Branch

ArriveCAN

Proposed response:

All travellers entering Canada by air or land, with limited exceptions, must use ArriveCAN.

Travellers are required to submit the following information electronically before they board their flight, or before they arrive (or when they arrive) at a land border crossing:

• travel and contact information;
• a quarantine plan (unless exempt); and
• a COVID-19 symptom self-assessment.

There are some exceptions, including travellers who can't submit this information because of a disability, inadequate infrastructure, a service disruption, or a natural disaster.

Travellers seeking entry by marine must submit their information in any form deemed appropriate by a Screening Officer before or when entering Canada, and are strongly encouraged to use ArriveCAN.

All travellers in all modes (unless otherwise exempt) are required to submit information through ArriveCAN during their quarantine period or by calling the toll-free number within 48 hours of their arrival (and on a regular basis).

Travellers who don't submit the mandatory information required after they have crossed the border will be considered a high priority for follow-up by law enforcement.

If pressed on usage statistics:

As of May 9, 2021, 1.68 million (1,682,552) travellers have submitted their information using either the ArriveCAN mobile or web application. Of this number, just under 1.2 million (1,193,364) travellers entered by air, almost 490,000 (488,794) travellers entered by land and 394 travellers entered by marine mode.

As of April 30, 2021, ArriveCAN was downloaded more than 1.65 million (1,652,147) times.

From April 26, 2020 to May 9, 2021, roughly 53% of all air travellers entering Canada submitted the required information using ArriveCAN.

Between May 3 and May 9, 2021, 85% of air travellers used ArriveCAN to submit the required information.

For people arriving by land, ArriveCAN usage rates have climbed from an initial 2% to 4% usage rate to 19%.

If pressed on contact information:

• Telephone: 1-833-283-7403 (toll-free from Canada or the U.S.)
• From outside Canada or the U.S.: 613-954-8485

Background:

General

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) created and launched ArriveCAN in April 2020 to support the Government of Canada's efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19.

ArriveCAN is available as a mobile app (available through the App Store or the Google Play store), as well as through a web application. New versions of ArriveCAN are released more or less monthly to coincide with updated OICs and to support new pre-entry requirements and technical improvements. The next release is planned for May 21, 2021.

Air

On February 21, 2021, it became mandatory for all travellers (with limited exceptions) seeking entry by air (commercial, non-commercial and private aircraft) to provide the following information online before boarding their flight to Canada:

• Travellers subject to quarantine: A suitable quarantine plan, including the name and address of the government-approved accommodation where they plan to quarantine until they receive the results of a COVID test, the civic address of the place where they plan to quarantine themselves for the remainder of the 14-day period, and their contact information throughout (phone number and email address).
• Quarantine exempt travellers: Contact information (phone number and email address).

In the air mode, travellers can also use ArriveCAN to:

• record a COVID-19 symptom self-assessment;
• submit their booking reference number for a 3-night stay at a government-authorized hotel; and
• acknowledge the requirement to provide proof of a negative molecular COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours before the scheduled flight, or a positive COVID-19 test taken between 14 and 90 days before the scheduled flight.

At this time, travellers who have not submitted the information online before boarding will be allowed to board the aircraft and seek entry to Canada. Non-compliant travellers may be subject to enforcement, which may include a fine or penalty upon arrival.

Exceptions:

• A person who, as determined by the Minister of Health, is unable to submit contact information electronically for a reason such as a disability, inadequate infrastructure, a service disruption, or a natural disaster, may be allowed to provide contact information in a form and manner and at a time specified by the Minister of Health.
• A person who plans to arrive at a Canadian airport aboard an aircraft, in order to transit to a country other than Canada, and who plans to remain in a sterile transit area (as defined in Section 2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations) until they leave Canada is also usually considered to be exempt.

Land

Effective February 21, 2021, it became mandatory for all travellers seeking entry by land to use ArriveCAN before or when arriving. They are divided into two groups:

1. Travellers subject to quarantine must submit a suitable quarantine plan that includes, among other things, the civic address of the place where they plan to quarantine and their contact information (phone number and email address).
2. Travellers exempt from quarantine must submit their contact information (phone number and email address).

In the land mode, travellers can also use ArriveCAN to:

• record a COVID-19 symptom self-assessment; and
• acknowledge the requirement to provide proof of a negative molecular COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours before arrival at the land border crossing OR a positive COVID-19 test taken between 14 and 90 days before arrival at the land border crossing into Canada.

Travellers entering by land are obligated to submit the information electronically before or when entering Canada (using ArriveCAN, for example). Travellers who haven't provided their information using ArriveCAN must provide their information verbally, in person.

Non-compliant travellers may be subject to enforcement, which can include a fine or penalty upon arrival.

Marine

Travellers seeking entry by marine are required to provide the same information in an appropriate manner (either through the PHAC desktop application, by filling in a paper form, or by using ArriveCAN) before or when they arrive at the border. Using ArriveCAN isn't mandatory in the marine mode, but it is strongly encouraged.

Who is exempt from quarantine

You may be exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements under certain conditions, including if you:

• provide essential services;
• maintain the flow of essential goods or people;
• are receiving medical care within 36 hours of entering Canada (non-related to COVID-19);
• regularly cross the border to work (pattern of travel which is generally defined as daily or weekly);
• live in an integrated trans-border community.

There are no exceptions for vaccinated travellers, at this time.

Usage

Total Users and Submissions – All Travel Modes

Year to Date – April 26, 2020 to May 9, 2021

Air Mode

Year to Date – April 26, 2020 to May 9, 2021

Land Mode

Year to Date – April 26, 2020 to May 9, 2021

Contacts:

Approved by: Denis Vinette, Vice-President, Travellers Branch

Compliance and enforcement information collection

Proposed response:

As part of Canada's efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, all travellers are required to provide contact and quarantine information upon and after entry into Canada.

Contact information for all inbound international travellers is collected by the CBSA to enforce both mandatory quarantine and isolation requirements.

On behalf of Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the CBSA captures basic biographical data, contact information, and quarantine-related information from all travellers, with limited exceptions, while in Canada.

Travellers are required to submit the following information electronically before they board their flight, or before/ arriving at a land border crossing:

• travel and contact information;
• a quarantine plan (unless exempted from the quarantine requirement); and
• a COVID-19 symptom self-assessment.

This information is used by the CBSA at the border to ensure travellers comply with requirements related to the Quarantine Act. All information collected is also shared with PHAC so it can share this information with provincial/territorial authorities and/or law enforcement as necessary.

It is important to note that the CBSA does not issue fines as part of enforcing the Quarantine Act; the decision regarding whether to issue fines or other enforcement actions related to the public health orders rests with PHAC.

Key Statistics:

As of May 17, 2021, data from a total of 11,756,340 travellers has been received by PHAC in all travel modes.

• 1,044,562 (10%) submissions were done on paper forms
• 143,190 (1%) were online submissions (including through the ArriveCAN web application)
• 7,986,705 (77%) were desktop computer submissions
• 1,219,310 (12%) submissions came in through the ArriveCAN mobile app.

90% of records were collected and shared with PHAC electronically.

Background:

All travellers are required to submit their contact information. All travellers who are subject to quarantine or isolation requirments must submit their quarantine or isolation address.

This information is collected to allow the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to promote, administer and enforce:

• the "Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada" Order (quarantine, isolation and other obligations);
• the Quarantine Program (authorized under the Quarantine Act); and
• for programs or activities of the Public Health Agency of Canada authorized by the Quarantine Act and/or Department of Health Act.

Personal information is collected under subsection 15(1) of the Quarantine Act, as well as section 2 of OIC 2021-0075, and may be used and/or disclosed in order to:

• monitor, verify and/or enforce a traveller's compliance with the Mandatory Isolation Order;
• provide the traveller with information to promote their compliance with the OIC; and
• carry out public health follow-up.

Submission to PHAC

All data records submitted electronically (ArriveCAN or PHAC desktop submissions) are transferred to PHAC the day after the traveller's entry.

All data submitted on paper are transferred to PHAC resources on site, or, if no PHAC resource is on site, the completed paper forms are couriered to Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). Paper forms are transferred from CBSA to PHAC, or couriered/faxed to PSPC at the end of each day, or the day following the traveller's arrival in Canada. Data submitted on paper can take additional time as a result of data entry processes, meaning it may be unavailable for an additional few days. Once the CBSA sends the forms by courier to PSPC, or provides them to a PHAC resource on site, the CBSA has no further involvement.

Contacts:

Approved by: Denis Vinette, Vice-President,Travellers Branch

Essential workers exempt from quarantine

Proposed response:

All international travellers, with limited exceptions, arriving into Canada must comply with quarantine and isolation requirements.

However, essential workers are exempt from mandatory quarantine in order to prevent disruption of the vital supply chains and essential services on which Canada depends.

Essential workers exempt under the emergency order include, but are not limited to:

• trade and transportation sector workers moving people and goods across the border;
• workers who cross the border regularly to their normal place of employment including critical infrastructure workers;
• technicians who enter Canada to maintain critical infrastructure;
• emergency service providers including peace officers, firefighters and paramedics required to provide services within 14 days;
• domestic or foreign law enforcement performing specified duties; and,
• crew members and members of Canadian or visiting Forces.

Critical infrastructure relates to energy and utilities, information and communication technologies, finance, health, food, water, transportation, safety, government and manufacturing.

There are strict requirements for travellers to follow, even if they are exempt from quarantine, including:

• wearing a mask at all times when in public spaces; and
• maintaining a list of all close contacts for their first 14 days in Canada.

Background:

The Government of Canada's (GC) top priority is the health and safety of Canadians. To date, Canada has managed to slow the spread of the virus by introducing a range of measures, including restrictions on non-essential travel across Canada's international borders and mandatory quarantine and isolation measures to help prevent further spread of COVID-19. With new COVID-19 variants of concern being increasingly detected in Canada, the GC has announced further testing and quarantine requirements for international travellers arriving at air and land ports of entry. These new measures are intended to help prevent variants of concern from reaccelerating the pandemic. Exemptions continue to be in place to ensure that economic supply chains continue between Canada and the United States.

Order in Council

New OIC 50: 2021-0313 entitled Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Quarantine,  Isolation and Other Obligations), has effect from the period beginning on April 21, 2021 (11:59:59 PM) and ending on May 21, 2021 (11:59:59 PM). This order repeals and replaces OIC 47: 2021-0174. This Order is to be read in conjunction with the Transport Canada Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirement of Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19 under the Aeronautics Act.

These measures will continue to be renewed on a monthly basis until they can be lifted safely.

Quarantine Exempt Classes of Persons

As of February 14, 2021, quarantine-exempt travellers must meet more stringent obligations with respect to mask wearing and must maintain a list of contacts during their initial 14-day period in Canada. Non-medical mask requirements have been amended to align with the Transport Canada Interim Order and exempts those younger than two years of age and those with physical restrictions that prevent mask wearing.

On March 21, 2021, a new quarantine exemption was introduced for a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, temporary resident, protected person or person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act who resides in Canada and who received essential medical services or treatments in a foreign country, if the person has the following:

• written evidence from a licensed health care practitioner in Canada who indicated that the medical services or treatments outside Canada are essential, and
• written evidence from a licensed health care practitioner in the foreign country who indicated that the services or treatments were provided in that country.

List of exempted persons from Quarantine Requirements (Table 2, Schedule 1) of the QIOO Order

1. A crew member as defined in subsection 101.01(1) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations or a person who enters Canada only to become such a crew member.
2. A member of a crew as defined in subsection 3(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations or a person who enters Canada only to become such a member of a crew.
3. A person who enters Canada at the invitation of the Minister of Health for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response.
4. A member of the Canadian Forces who enters Canada for the purpose of performing their duties as a member of the forces.
5. A member of a visiting force, as defined in section 2 of the Visiting Forces Act, who enters Canada for the purpose of performing their duties as a member of those forces.
6. Essential service provider as determined by the CPHO. (Dependant on designated list)
7. Quarantine NIEL issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration or the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
8. A person who is permitted to work in Canada as a provider of emergency services under paragraph 186(t) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and who enters Canada for the purpose of providing those services.
9. A person who enters Canada for the purpose of providing medical care, transporting essential medical equipment, supplies or means of treatment, or delivering, maintaining or repairing medically necessary equipment or devices.
10. A person who enters Canada for the purpose of receiving essential medical services or treatments within 36 hours of entering Canada, other than services or treatments related to COVID-19, as long as they remain under medical supervision for the 14-day period that begins on the day on which they enter Canada.
11. Persons who must leave and enter Canada to receive essential medical services in another country if they have written evidence from a licensed health care practitioner who indicated that medical services outside Canada are essential, unless the services are for primary or emergency medical services under agreement with another jurisdiction and written evidence from a licensed health care practitioner in the foreign country indicating that the services were provided in that country.
12. A person who is permitted to work in Canada as a student in a health field under paragraph 186(p) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and who enters Canada for the purpose of performing their duties as a student in the health field.
13. A licensed health care practitioner with proof of employment in Canada who enters Canada for the purpose of performing their duties as a licensed health care practitioner, if they do not directly care for persons 65 years of age or older within the 14-day period that begins on the day on which the person enters Canada.
14. A person, including a captain, deckhand, observer, inspector, scientist and any other person supporting commercial or research fishing-related activities, who enters Canada aboard a Canadian fishing vessel or a foreign fishing vessel, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act, for the purpose of carrying out fishing or fishing-related activities, including offloading of fish, repairs, provisioning the vessel and exchange of crew.
15. A habitual resident of an integrated trans-border community that exists on both sides of the Canada-United States border who enters Canada within the boundaries of that community, if entering Canada is necessary for carrying out an everyday function within that community.
16. A person who enters Canada to return to their habitual place of residence in Canada after carrying out an everyday function that, due to geographical constraints, necessarily involves entering the United States.
17. A person who seeks to enter Canada on board a vessel, that is engaged in research and that is operated by or under the authority of the Government of Canada or at its request or operated by the government of a province, a local authority or a government, council or other entity authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, if the person remains on board the vessel.
18. US-Resident border student: a student who is enrolled at a listed institution within the meaning of any order made under section 58 of the Quarantine Act, who attends that institution regularly and who enters Canada to go to that institution, if the government of the province and the local health authority of the place where that institution is located have indicated to the PHAC that the institution is approved to accommodate students.
19. A driver of a conveyance who enters Canada to drop off or pick up an US-Resident cross-border student.
20. Canadian resident cross-border student: a student who is enrolled at an educational institution in the United States, who attends that institution regularly and who enters Canada to return to their habitual place of residence after attending that institution.
21. A driver of a conveyance who enters the US to drop off or pick up a Canadian resident cross-border student.
22. Custody arrangement: A dependent child who enters Canada under the terms of a written agreement or court order regarding custody, access or parenting.
23. Custody arrangement: A driver of a conveyance who enters Canada to drop off or pick up a dependent child under the terms of a written agreement or court order regarding custody, access or parenting.
24. Custody arrangement: A driver of a conveyance who enters Canada after dropping off or picking up a dependent child under the terms of a written agreement or court order regarding custody, access or parenting.
25. Cross-border community: A habitual resident of the remote communities of Northwest Angle, Minnesota or Hyder, Alaska who enters Canada only to access necessities of life from the closest Canadian community where such necessities of life are available.
26. Cross-border community: A habitual resident of the remote communities of Campobello Island, New Brunswick or Stewart, British Columbia who enters Canada after having entered the United States only to access necessities of life from the closest American community where such necessities of life are available.
27. Persons denied entry in US & flagpolers: A person who enters Canada in a conveyance at a land border crossing in the following circumstances, if neither the person nor any other person in the conveyance left the conveyance while outside Canada:
    1. the person was denied entry into the United States at the land border crossing, or
    2. the person entered the territory of the United States but did not seek legal entry into the United States at the land border crossing.
28. Persons participating in a pilot projects with Federal and PT government.
29. A person who plans to arrive at a Canadian airport aboard an aircraft in order to transit to a foreign country and who remains in a sterile transit area until they leave Canada.
30. Any person or class of persons whom the CPHO determines does not pose a risk of significant harm to public health and who complies with any conditions imposed on them by the CPHO to minimize the risk of introduction and spread of COVID-19. This includes:
    • Persons in the trade or transportation sector who are important for the movement of goods or people and who cross the border while performing their duties or for the purpose of performing their duties.
    • Persons who must cross the border regularly to go to their normal place of employment, provided they do not directly care for persons 65 years of age or older within the first 14 days after their entry to Canada.
    • Technicians or specialists specified by a government, manufacturer, or company, who enter Canada as required for the purpose of maintaining, repairing, installing or inspecting equipment necessary to support critical infrastructure.
    • Emergency service providers, including firefighters, peace officers, and paramedics, who return from providing such services in another country.
    • Commercial conveyance operators repatriating human remains into Canada.
    • Persons supporting commercial or research open water aquaculture-related activities, who enter Canada for the purpose of carrying out aquaculture-related activities, and who proceed directly to an open water facility or vessel upon entry to Canada.
    • Officials of the Government of Canada or a foreign government, including border services officers, immigration enforcement officers, law enforcement and correctional officers, who are escorting individuals travelling to Canada or from Canada pursuant to a legal process such as deportation, extradition or international transfer of offenders.
    • Officials of the Government of Canada, a provincial or a foreign government, who enter Canada for the purposes of law, border or immigration enforcement, or national security activities that support active investigations, ensure continuity of enforcement operations or activities, or transfer information or evidence pursuant to, or in support, of a legal process.
    • Members of a crew for any conveyance who are re-entering Canada after having left to undertake mandatory training relating to the operation of a conveyance.

In addition, the following persons and classes of persons are exempt from select public health requirements provided that they meet established conditions:

High performance amateur athletes participating in or as a person deemed to have an essential role in relation to an international single sport event, may receive an exemption to the 14-day quarantine period, provided they are asymptomatic and comply with the risk mitigation measures developed by their National Sport Organization or league and assessed by PHAC.

Contacts:

Approved by: Julia Aceti, A/Vice-President, Strategic Policy Branch